Air France to test Mobile Phone usage on Flights

In early 2007 Air France will be the first airline to take delivery of a new A318 equipped with OnAir, an inflight system which allows mobile phones to be used on board without disrupting navigation.

During a six-month period from March to September 2007 on services to Europe and North Africa, Air France will carry out trials on this aircraft with passengers, first of all by messaging and emailing only, and then with sound.

During this phase, Air France will be asking passengers to give their opinion on the new facility by means of a questionnaire, which will be given to them during the trip. The findings of this study will decide whether the service will be extended or not to other aircraft in the fleet.

This service will enable passengers to:

- receive and send calls and SMS' on a mobile phone,
- receive and send emails on a laptop or PDA,
- access the internet in WAP/imode.

Leaflets will be distributed to passengers before the flight (explaining the service, how it functions, tariffs etc.) and flight attendants will make announcements during the flight.

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