Chinese airlines have started permitting passengers to use mobile phones in flight mode.
China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Lucky Air lifted the ban to allow use in the cabin.
The country’s largest budget carrier Spring Airlines said it will also follow from next month.
It comes after China’s civil aviation authority relaxed previous rules in September to leave it up to individual airlines to decide if flight mode use is allowed.
Other devices such as laptops and tablets were already permitted for use in flight mode or on Wi-Fi enabled flights but not mobile phones.
The regulator had tough penalties for any violation of the rule, with up to 10 days’ detention.
Beijing police detained three passengers last year for breaking the restrictions.
