Emirates launch world’s first in-flight mobile telephone service

Emirates have launched the world’s first in-flight mobile telephone service. The Dubai-based airline said first authorised mobile phone call on a commercial flight was made on March 21 on a flight from Dubai to Casablanca.

The Airbus A340-300 was the first in the fleet to be fitted with the AeroMobile system. A second system has been installed in another plane and will be operational shortly.

The service is only activated when the aircraft has reached cruising altitude and can be turned off by cabin crew at certain times, for example during the night. Callers are billed by their own networks at premium international roaming rates.