China Could Soon Let Passengers Use Their Phones on Planes
- Standards by early 2017 may allow mobile phone use on planes
- Carriers, eyeing e-commerce potential, preparing for changes
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Millions of flyers in China may soon see their wish come true: authorities are considering lifting restrictions on the use of mobile phones on planes, paving the way for wider in-flight connectivity that is now available only in developed markets.
A legislation to amend regulations that limit the use of electronic devices on board is underway and the norms will be relaxed by the end of this year or early 2017, Zhu Tao, director of the air transportation division at the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said in an interview. The changes follow revised safety standards issued about three years ago by regulators in the U.S. and Europe.