Idle Thoughts of an Idle Man: Mobile Phones on Aircraft: Ryanair Rollout Voice/SMS/Email Services

The news that budget airline Ryanair has started to rollout an in-flight mobile phone voice service should come as no surprise, after all back in 2006 the company announced it would be introducing the service 'soon' . Ryanair is constantly looking at ways to generate additional in-flight revenue and has worked extremely hard to fully understand the services that will sell to its passenger demographic.

It obviously views an early adoption of in-flight voice mobile service as potentially a very profitable revenue stream (early pricing being: £1.50-£3 per minute, text messages at 40p a go and e-mails from £1-£2) and as a bonus using the wide spread reporting of the new service as free advertising.

For the initial phase 20 Aircraft have been equipped for the service, with the remainder of the fleet being refitted over the next 18 Months. The service provider is OnAir and for the ground segment , they have arrangements with 50 mobile phone operators throughout Europe to route call once it leaves the OnAir Network. Currently only one UK Network is signed up, this being O2, but talks with the rest of the major UK Networks are in progress.

Those of you who have followed by previous posts on this subject know that whilst I find the technology fascinating, I am more than a little concerned over the adverse impact on passengers who use the flight part of their journey as 'quiet time' whether for reviewing work, or just relaxing.

Well the introduction of the service is likely to make Ryanair flights louder and more boisterous.
However, Michael O'Leary, the company's chief executive, has little sympathy for passengers trying to catch up on sleep or hoping for a little peace and quiet on their trip:

"I have no patience with the approach that says people don't want to use their mobile phones in-flight," he told The Guardian. "You don't take a flight to contemplate your life in silence. Our services are not cathedral-like sanctuaries. Anyone who looks like sleeping, we wake them up to sell them things."

"We will be encouraging our passengers to make as many calls as possible because that will lower our costs and boost our revenues."

Which really sums up the Ryanair philosophy. With the current economic situation companies are going to further increase the use of Budget Airlines for Business Travel, as most of Ryanair Flights are short haul, Business travellers used to traditional airline service may become irritated, but no more. However for routes that are deemed Medium Haul, being sat next to a 'Mobileholic' could lead to the first instance of Anti-Mobile Rage on an Aircraft - We shall see!

Meanwhile the Idle Man will follow the Ryanair rollout with interest.

Previous Posts on this Subject:

Mobile Phones on Aircraft - Like the Technology - Hate the Consequences 22nd October 2007

Mobile Phones On Aircraft - Update 8th November 2007