China relaxes ban on using personal devices mid-flight
China’s civil aviation authority will ease the nationwide ban on the use of portable electronic devices during flights.
It has revised rules allowing smartphones, tablets and laptops to be used, but will let each individual airline to ultimately decide whether to allow it.
Airlines will be allowed to set their own policies within certain parameters, such as what devices can be used.
The new directive takes effect next month.
"Now the government will give airlines the right to decide on their own," said Zhu Tao, deputy director of the department of flight standards at the CAAC.
"I believe we will see various Chinese airline companies allowing passengers to use portable electronic devices on planes in the near future."
It has been broadly welcomed on social media but many commented that it will make little difference to the in-flight experience.
That is because in-flight Wi-Fi service in China is still extremely rare.
Passengers violating the current PED ban during flight could be fined up to 50,000 yuan (US$7,600).
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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