Qantas eases up on cellphones

Qantas yesterday further relaxed rules on the use of cellphones on flights, including domestic flights in New Zealand.

Air New Zealand continues to ban cellphone use.

Qantas extended its cellphone policy on domestic flights to international, New Zealand domestic, and Australian Airlines services.

Under the policy, cellphones may be used once an aircraft has landed and left the runway, and also after the aircraft's ascent and before its descent as long as the cellphone is in "flight mode".

This mode disables the cellphone from transmitting signals. Passengers cannot make calls, but can use functions to listen to music or read emails.

Qantas executive general manager John Borghetti said customers, particularly business customers, had welcomed the more lenient rules.

The policy extension met the standards of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in Australia and the Civil Aviation Authority in New Zealand.

Last night, Air NZ spokeswoman Rosie Paul said there was no change to the airline's ban on cellphone use. The company was still discussing its policy with the Civil Aviation Authority, she said.

"There is an awareness that cellphones with functions that do not transmit are probably OK in flight, but there has been no change to the policy."