A Transportation Department committee says airlines should be given the freedom to choose whether to allow in-flight phone calls.
The DOT advisory committee for aviation consumer protection approved a proposal to let airlines decide on mobile-phone use if conditions are ‘safe and secure.’
Even with the proposal, airlines would have to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety regulations.
Airlines would have to prove in-flight calls would not interfere with aircraft systems.
"We’ll keep the wishes of our customers in mind if the rules governing cell phone use shift from the government to individual airlines," said Matt Miller, American Airlines spokesman.
Previous feedback on the issue is mixed, with many fliers against allowing phone calls during flights.
Trade group Airlines for America has backed the committee’s recommendation.
"We’ve always said it should be up to the airlines to decide what’s best for their employees and customers," said A4A spokeswoman Jean Medina.
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