Around the World: European Union

In-flight cell phone service

EU officials say the number of aircraft equipped with services allowing passengers to use cell phones in the skies above Europe will double by next year.

EU spokesman Martin Selmayr says only a total of 27 aircraft from three airlines - British Midland Airways Ltd, also known as bmi; Portugal's TAP, and low-cost airline Ryanair - currently offer a pay-for-service to use mobile phones on board. Air France-KLM finished a seven-month trial last year, but has not yet decided whether to implement the service on its European routes.