Southwest Airlines joined several other major air carriers in relaxing its mobile-phone usage rules. The carrier said customers with cell phones onboard may begin using them while taxiing to the airport gate, after the flight attendant gives permission to do so upon landing.
“This flexibility is just one more way Southwest is showing its customers it is the convenient, affordable, customer-friendly choice,” said Colleen Barrett, Southwest’s president and chief operating officer.
Previously on Southwest, Customers could use their phones onboard upon boarding, but only until the aircraft doors closed. Now, customers will be able to use their cell phones upon arrival in a city, while the aircraft is taxiing to the arrival gate. Southwest said it conducted the required Federal Aviation Administration testing to ensure that cell phones did not interfere with ground navigation equipment during taxi.
Other airlines including Continental Airlines, Southeast Airlines and American Airlines have enacted similar relaxed rules.
