Malaysia Airlines: First Asian Carrier to Allow Cell Phones on Flights

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 Aircraft

Malaysia Airlines has recently unveiled a new service, allowing passengers to carry cell phones on-board. Travelers flying with the airline will now be able to send and receive text messages, and use their Blackberry-type devices to send and receive e-mails.

The airline has teamed up with AeroMobile, a British company, to emerge as the first Asian carrier to offer in-flight mobile phone and data services to its passengers. This new system will help the passengers to use their PDA’s in-flight, without disturbing the aircraft systems and ground telecommunication networks.

This service will be available to passengers on a single Boeing 777-200 aircraft, that flies to select European, Australian and Asian destinations.

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Airlines could save billions with new-age GPS Technology

Existing Air Trafiic Control System

The smart and new age GPS technology already a commonplace in cars and cell phones is all set to change the way airlines do their routing. With the $35 billion plan, that will replace the existing radar system, you will reach your destination more in time than ever.

The old era (since World War II) traffic network that often compels the planes to take longer routes, requires the U.S. airlines to spend billions of dollars on fuel. According to ‘Associated Press analysis of federal and industry data found that if the new system were already in place, airlines could have saved more than $5 billion in fuel this year alone.’

Moreover, this smart technology would triple capacity, reduce delays, improve the safety and will help to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions to a considerable extent. As for cost, U.S. airlines are expected to eventually contribute about $15 billion toward this $35 billion project. The airlines will have to spend about $200,000 per plane as they equip their fleets with GPS.

For anyone interested in the whole story by AP, please read here.