British Airways (BA) is set to introduce a new policy that may lead to noisier flights, as the airline plans to allow passengers to make phone calls while in the air for the first time.
The carrier is implementing Elon Musk’s high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet, and unlike many other airlines, BA will not prohibit voice or video calls during flights.
This change means that passengers could soon find themselves making WhatsApp calls, participating in Zoom meetings, or even livestreaming from 40,000 feet above ground.
As part of the Oneworld alliance with American Airlines, BA intends to count on passenger courtesy rather than strict enforcement, encouraging travelers to use headphones and keep their noise levels down.
However, the decision has already sparked concern among frequent travelers and aviation specialists, who fear it could disrupt one of the few remaining quiet environments in today’s busy world.
Rhys Jones, an aviation editor at Head for Points, expressed concern, stating, “The biggest worry is being bothered by others making calls or playing audio loudly.”
‘On airlines where calls are banned, the rule is clear. Here, it becomes subjective – and much harder to enforce.’
Most major airlines still prohibit voice calls, even when Wi-Fi is available.
Passengers could soon face noisier flights after British Airways (BA) announced it will allow in-flight phone calls for the first time
BA, a partner of American Airlines in the Oneworld alliance, says it will rely on etiquette rather than enforcement – asking passengers to use headphones and keep noise to a minimum
One notable exception is Qatar Airways, where One Mile at a Time writer Ben Schlappig said passengers have complained about a ‘massive increase in noise.’
He warned the added disruption could even spark conflicts – and even fights – mid-flight.
Despite the skepticism, BA is pressing ahead, aiming to equip all 300 aircraft with Starlink over the next two years.
The first connected flight – a Boeing 787-8 bound for Houston on March 19 – relied on a network of more than 10,000 low-Earth orbit satellites.
Starlink, the satellite internet service powering BA’s in-flight connectivity, is a wholly owned division of SpaceX, the company founded and led by CEO Elon Musk.
Following the successful test, BA chairman and CEO Sean Doyle said the airline is ‘excited to be the first UK airline’ to offer this level of connectivity.
‘We know staying connected matters to people… and Starlink will give our customers fast, reliable Wi-Fi that transforms the onboard experience,’ Doyle said, calling it part of a broader push to modernize the airline.
Meanwhile, flyers are rushing to book flights as prices across the US and internationally climb sharply, driven by the surge in oil prices linked to the war with Iran.
The airline is rolling out Elon Musk’s ultra-fast Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet – and, unlike most carriers, it won’t ban voice or video calls
One Mile at a Time writer Ben Schlappig said passengers using Qatar Airways, who’s the sole company allowing on-flight calls, have complained about a ‘massive increase in noise’
In some cases, fares have nearly doubled since the conflict began, prompting travelers to book early to avoid even steeper fares later.
Airline executives had said fares – especially for long-haul flights – are likely to keep rising in the months ahead.
Travel expert Katy Nastro at Going, an American travel technology company, told the Daily Mail that history indicates that fares will likely stay high as airlines deal with the high costs.
She added that ticket prices will ultimately depend on how much travelers are willing to pay.
