News: Mobile phone breakthrough for Ryanair passengers
Flights > News > # 933 (30/08/2006)
Ryanair passengers will soon be able to use their mobile phones during flights. The no-frills giants have signed a deal with in-flight communications experts OnAir to fit the latest mobile satellite technology on 50 of their planes from next summer. The remainder of the airline’s 200-strong fleet will be updated from early 2008 onwards. Callers will pay the same rates as international roaming charges.
Announcing the new initiative, Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, said: “This is another revolutionary passenger service initiative from Ryanair. We will soon enable passengers to use their mobile phones and electronic communications devices in the air, just as they do on the ground.”
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Ryanair’s marketing strategy has never been subtle. For the past few weeks they have been using Winston Churchill’s iconic image in a major sales drive dressed up as a message of defiance against terrorism. Now they are trying to sell the idea of being able to use your mobile phone on Ryanair flights. Not a problem in theory, but then you get a bizarre statement from the no-frills airline’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, suggesting that passengers might call their friends and family to report that the flight is running on time and that they got a bargain fare. Try to picture the scene:
“Hi darling, how are you? I just thought I’d call to let you know that my flight is on time. This is because I’m flying on Ryanair, Europe’s most punctual airline. I only paid 99p plus taxes and charges for my flight, what a bargain. I bought one of their award-winning sandwiches too, and took a punt on a scratch card. Wow, I love flying with Ryanair – Europe’s largest low fares airline. See you soon, byeeeeeeee.”
Not very likely is it? In fact, the only time I could envisage using my phone during a flight would be if it was running late and I knew someone was picking me up from the airport.
The pilots' union BALPA have noted their own concerns about in-flight mobile phone use, arguing that it could provoke more air rage incidents. It certainly goes without saying that the prospect of having to listen to hundreds of Dom Jolly-esque "I'm on the plane" type conversations certainly doesn't fill me with glee, but business passengers in particular will relish being able to remain in touch whilst in the sky. Unfortunately, there isn't space on most aircraft to have a mobile phone free zone, but then again how many train passengers have ever respected these anyway? Considering the amount of deafening PA announcements that are already made on many no-frills airlines to sell scratch cards, perfume and other junk, how much difference are a few mobile phone conversations really going to make? One more reason to buy those noise cancelling headphones I keep promising myself!
Meanwhile, I'm sure that dinner party tables across the land will be buzzing with pledges never to fly with Ryanair again, now that they have announced plans to invade one of the last few mobile phone free zones. Somehow, I doubt that the bean counters and Dublin will be worried – for every person who plans to shun the airline, there is another who’ll think this is a great step forward for European aviation.
The announcement about in-flight mobile phone use might have grabbed the headlines, but Ryanair have also said that they will be offering in-flight wireless internet facilities, and at a time when Boeing have just confirmed they plan to abandon their Connexion in-flight broadband programme. Last year, Ryanair hastily withdrew its plans to offer in-flight entertainment using portable DVD players, due to poor take-up levels, so it will be interesting to see whether they have more success with wireless internet. The no-frills giants haven't confirmed any pricing details about their new services, except to say that the cost of phone calls will be broadly in line with international roaming charges. The Boeing Connexion service cost between £6 and £14 per flight - an amount not dissimilar to the cost of many of Ryanair's one-way tickets, so how many people are going to want to pay the same again to catch up on a few e-mails? If the price is low enough, there might be a few more takers, but will it be enough to make the investment in refitting their aircraft worth while? Somehow, I can't see the operations managers wanting to encourage too many more passengers to use their laptops on Ryanair flights - putting the recent security alerts aside, laptops still take up a great deal of space on the seatback tables, and this doesn't leave any room for a drink or sandwich. There will also be the problem of passengers' attention being diverted onto the screen in front of them, and away from the all important in-flight adverts. From a convenience point of view, using a laptop on board Ryanair flights has become a hassle anyway since they removed all of the seatback pockets.
