Airline cellphone rules change

Qantas and Air New Zealand may relax rules on cellphone use on domestic flights. But it won't mean passengers can make calls.

Qantas has already eased the rules across the Tasman, where it now allows phones with a "flight safety mode" to be used before take-off and after landing.

This mode disables a phone's radio transmitter function but allows reading e-mails and listening to music. The airline confirmed it is considering extending the changes to New Zealand.

Air New Zealand also confirmed it was discussing the issue with the Civil Aviation Authority. New Zealand rules state that cellphones and devices such as laptop computers are to be switched off once the aircraft doors are closed. Andy Wallace

- HERALD ON SUNDAY