Air France tests inflight mobile

Air France has announced that it is trialling inflight mobile phone services on its flights across Europe.

Passengers travelling with the carrier onboard one of its Airbus A318 planes are now able to send and receive text and picture messages, as well as send and receive emails sent via internet-enabled handsets.

It is expected that flyers will be able to make mobile calls during the second half of the six-month trial. Following the conclusion of the scheme, Air France will decide whether it is feasible to roll out the service across all of its flights.

"We are seizing every opportunity to offer customers the latest technological innovations, while continuing to make their travel comfort and wellbeing our main priority," commented Patrick Roux, executive vice president of marketing for Air France.

Earlier this month, the carrier announced that it is to launch new flights to Los Angeles from Heathrow Airport in March 2008 after signing a joint venture agreement with Delta Air Lines.

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