26 March 2008
New equipment has been installed on Emirates Airlines planes that allows travellers to make mobile telephone calls while onboard.
In total the company is to plough $27 million (£13 million) into the development of the AeroMobile technology on its fleet.
The first flight has already been made using the system and the company said it operates by allowing phones to function at a low power level.
Chief Executive at Group Chairman at Emirates Airlines H H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said that the firm is "delighted" to be offering such options for consumers.
"Our customers are already making more than 7,000 calls a month from our in-seat phones, so we will be making life easier for those for whom staying in touch has become an important part of their everyday lives," he commented.
The company was founded in 1985 and flies to over 50 countries across the world. It is the biggest airline in the Middle East.
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