But OnAir will then cut its prices by 10% a year for five years, he says.

ECONOMIST: The use of mobile phones on planes moves another step closer

OnAir and other companies such as Aeromobile employ picocell technology, deemed safe by aviation authorities.

BBC: More flights allow mobile calls

This month, Qantas is partnering with a company called OnAir to test satellite-based Internet service aboard flights from Australia to Los Angeles.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Look for OnAir service to drop initially on short flights in Western Europe, though Airbus intends to take it global -- if the FAA's cool with it, anyway.

ENGADGET: Airbus gets Euro approval for in-flight calling system

According to the latest survey, released by OnAir this week, 80% of airline passengers approve of the idea of being able to use telephones on aircraft, even if they do not plan to do so themselves.

ECONOMIST: The use of mobile phones on planes moves another step closer

Qantas Boeing 767s and Ryanair 737s will begin rolling out AirBus subsidiary OnAir's cellular satellite uplinked connections to their customers as early as June or July 2007 in Ryanair's case, with full rollout on that fleet expected in 2008.

ENGADGET: Ryanair, Qantas (finally) adding in-flight calling!