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House Bill Would Require FAA to Ban Phone Calls on Flights
Lawmakers introduced legislation last month that would direct the Federal Aviation Administration to prohibit phone and video calls during flights. The measure would set a 180-day deadline for the agency to implement the rule. Several airlines already restrict such calls under their own policies.
Jul 21, 7:56 PM·1m read1 source
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A bill introduced last month in the House of Representatives would direct the Federal Aviation Administration to ban phone and video calls on commercial flights within 180 days of enactment. The legislation follows a 2018 congressional vote that instructed the FAA to issue such a ban but did not set a deadline.
Phone calls have remained legal in the air even as WiFi access expanded on many aircraft.
U.S. carriers including United, American, and Southwest already prohibit in-flight phone calls. British Airways announced earlier this year that it would permit calls on aircraft equipped with Starlink WiFi, while Virgin Atlantic allows short calls but bars video calls.
Former flight attendants say inconsistent rules create enforcement challenges and increase the chance of disputes between crew and passengers.
Ally Murphy, a former flight attendant and cabin service supervisor at Virgin Atlantic, said loud conversations in the confined cabin space disrupt nearby passengers. "We're shoved into a tin can, and we're hurdling through the sky at 38,000 feet. It's not a normal situation to be in," Murphy told Business Insider.
Bobby Laurie, a former flight attendant, stated that a uniform federal ban would reduce subjective decisions by crew members about what counts as disruptive behavior. Paul Hudson, president of the passenger advocacy group FlyerRights, said he supports a ban but suggested accommodations such as designated areas or a fee-based option similar to Amtrak's quiet cars.
Jacqueline Whitmore, a former flight attendant and etiquette expert, said phone conversations in close quarters are primarily a matter of manners rather than safety.
