Foreign Airlines Need Permission From Home to Allow Gate-to-Gate Device Use

Foreign airlines can not give passengers permission to use their electronic devices while taking off or landing in U.S. airspace until it is permitted by their country’s aviation authority.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday that it will allow the use of electronic devices at all stages of flight; however, airlines will be responsible for testing their own aircraft to ensure that is no interference. Delta and JetBlue were the first carriers to gain approval for gate-to-gate device usage on Friday.

“Foreign airlines are governed by the regulations of their country’s civil aviation authority,” confirms Kristie Greco, spokesperson for the FAA.

This means that a traveler taking off in New York might be able to use their device until the plane prepares to land in London or Munich.

A Lufthansa spokesperson tells Skift, “Lufthansa can’t follow immediately as we are dependent on the German authorities and existing regulations. As soon as they change the legal restrictions we might be able to follow. The decision of the FAA is helpful in this respect.”

Global aviation authorities followed the FAA’s decision to ban electronic use during takeoff and landing so it is likely that they will follow its decision to allow electronic use during all stages of flight as well.

International aviation authorities reached for comment have not yet responded to Skift’s inquiries.