Dubai-based Emirates airlines said on Thursday it has become the first carrier in the world to commercially launch an in-flight mobile telephone service. It said the first authorised mobile telephone call made from a commercial flight was made on Thursday at 30,000 feet (about 9,000 metres) from an Emirates Airbus A340-300 aircraft travelling from Dubai to Casablanca.
The aircraft is the first in the airline's fleet to be fitted with the AeroMobile system, which ensures mobile telephones operate at minimum power during flights so as to not interfere with aircraft electronics.