China: Passengers could soon use phones on planes

Millions of flyers in China may soon see their wish come true: authorities are considering lifting restrictions on the use of mobile phones on planes, paving the way for wider in-flight connectivity that is now available only in developed markets. A legislation to amend regulations that limit the use of electronic devices on board is underway and the norms will be relaxed by the end of this year or early 2017, Zhu Tao, director of the air transportation division at the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said in an interview. The changes follow revised safety standards issued about three years ago by regulators in the US and Europe. The amendment, if approved, will enable passengers to surf the internet, use applications such as WeChat, and shop online at cruising altitudes with smartphones, the most preferred device for web browsing in the world’s most populous nation. For the 50 odd Chinese airlines fighting for a slice of the world’s No. 2 air-travel market, it provides e-commerce opportunities as they tap the purchasing power of the nation’s newly rich while they are airborne. The global market for in-flight e-commerce is set to reach $1.7b by 2020 from $1.4b in 2015, according to Frost & Sullivan. <br/>