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Passengers can now make calls on Emirates flights everywhere but the U.S.


Skift Take

Fliers’ minds are either thrilled with the prospect of in-air productivity or cursing Emirates for making them accessible in the one place they were forced to unplug. US flights will be stay quiet, but probably not for long.

Dubai-based Emirates said Monday that it will start letting passengers on its A380 aircraft talk using their cellphones while in flight.

The service works with standard phones in conjunction with OnAir, the company that provides Wi-Fi service for Emirates’ aircraft.

The only major limitation is that, per Federal Aviation Administration rules, the phones can’t be used over the U.S., so the service shuts down within 250 miles of the States.

Emirates is naturally touting the convenience and technological breakthrough of the service, though...passengers’ opinions appear mixed on having the ability to make cellphone calls in flight.

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