We're One Step Closer to Making In-Flight Calls

Airlines should be able to decide whether passengers can make phone calls during flights, a committee told US regulators weighing the issue. The Transportation Department’s Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection approved the recommendation, said Chuck Ardo, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who heads the panel. The committee approved a proposal that said “if safe and secure,” the Transportation Department could let airlines decide on mobile-phone use, Kane said.

The panel, which met in Washington, includes representatives of airlines and consumers, and evaluates the Transportation Department’s consumer protection programs. The Federal Communications Commission in 2013 agreed to consider lifting its ban on in-flight calls. The proposal sparked opposition from travelers, flight attendants and others over the prospect of yapping seat mates on crammed flights. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said he would use his authority to decide whether voice calls are fair.