Ryanair to Offer In-Flight Mobile Phone Service

Budget airline Ryanair Holdings PLC announced Wednesday that it will fit its entire fleet with a mobile phone service from next year, allowing passengers to call, text and e-mail during flight.

The Irish no-frills carrier said that it will install the service from communications company OnAir on half its fleet in the second half of next year, and the remainder of its fleet from early 2008.

The airline said it will charge rates that "mirror international roaming charges" for passengers to use their own phones and other mobile devices. Ryanair will receive a commission from OnAir on call revenues made onboard its aircraft.

Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said that the revenues generated by the service would help the airline keep fares low "while at the same time doubling the size of our operation over the next five years as we grow to carry 80 million passengers annually by 2012."

Ryanair has a network of more than 360 routes serving 23 countries across Europe.

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