Silent air travel a thing of the past

Noise complaints have arisen since China's commercial airlines entered the "mobile era", with some passengers' mobile use without earphones interrupting the quiet of airline cabins.

Most Chinese airlines - including China Eastern, Hainan and Xiamen airlines - have allowed passengers to use portable electronic devices on planes in flight mode since the aviation authority relaxed the restrictions on Jan 16.

Jessie J, a London-based singer, recently posted a video online showing a Chinese flight she was taking in which two Chinese passengers near her were watching videos on their mobiles without using earphones.