British Airways to offer in-flight texting facility on London-New York flight from September 2009

British Airways, the national airline and the flag carrier of the United Kingdom, is offering its passengers use of mobile phones, BlackBerries and data-enabled laptops on limited routes from September 2009.

Though voice calls will not be permitted, passengers will be allowed to send and receive text messages and e-mails.

The new in-flight service will be available on flights from London City Airport to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport from September 2009.

The in-flight Wi-Fi technology is being provided to British Airways by Mobile OnAir, the company that is setting up in-flight mobile services to be launched by Ryanair and bmi.

Passengers on British Airways’ new all-business-class services from London City Airport to John F Kennedy International Airport will be able to use their mobile phones, BlackBerries and laptops for text-messaging and data services, Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, told journalists.

Walsh said British Airways may introduce voice calls at a future date, adding: “The test-messaging service is a great service for our customers whom we know want to do business in the air or simply stay in touch via e-mail or text.”

Initially, British Airways will limit the service to twice-daily flights between London City Airport and New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport.

A narrow-body Airbus A318 aircraft is used on this London-New York, all-business class route and the aircraft must make a stop at Shannon Airport in Dublin, Ireland, on the west-bound leg because of fuel-weight restrictions on takeoff from London City Airport. The flights will be non-stop on the east-bound leg.

The Airbus A318 aircraft configuration will have only 32 seats.

British Airways has not yet disclosed the pricing for the in-flight mobile service.

Ryanair, Qantas, Air France and Emirates Airline have experimented with use of in-flight mobile phones.

At present, only Emirates, which, in 2008, became the first airline to offer in-flight mobile phone service, allows in-flight voice calls. Other airlines, including British Airways, have said they might allow in-flight mobile-phone calls depending upon passenger feedback.