China Eastern and Hainan airlines will allow passengers to use their smartphones on planes from today -- but not to make actual phone calls.

 

从今天起中国东方航空和海南航空两家公司将运行乘客在飞机起飞时使用手机——但是不能打电话。

 

The two airlines announced the move yesterday after the industry regulator issued a guideline to lift the ban on mobile phones.

 

Spring Airlines, a Shanghai-based carrier like China Eastern, said it will allow passengers to use phones in the air from "early this year."

 

From today, passengers on China Eastern flights are able to use their smartphones as well as laptops, iPads, e-books and other small-size portable electronic devices throughout the whole flight, the carrier said.

 

Previously¹, the use of phones was banned on flights by Chinese carriers. However, intercoms, remote-control toys and other devices with remote-control or radio transmitting equipment remain out of bounds on aircraft. Flouting² the rules can mean a fine of up to 50,000 yuan (US$7,610).

 

According to the new rule on the use of portable electronic devices released yesterday, smartphones must be shifted to flight mode and the communication function must be turned off, China Eastern said.

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