QATAR Airways is to ban mobile phone calls on its flights to avoid air rage.

The airline is allowing text calls, and is providing WiFi and high spead broadband access for laptops.

But chief executive Akbar al Baker said research showed that 80 per cent of customers do not want mobile calls to be allowed inflight.

"We will have the facility on board - it's just a question of flicking a switch. But we have decided not to allow mobile calls on planes for a very simple reason - comfort. We don't want people to start speaking loudly in the cabin on a night flight.

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Background

• Inflight mobile phone trials slammed

• Ofcom grants approval for in-flight mobiles

• Young business travellers want on-board wireless

• Mobile loudmouths look to the skies

• USA says no to midair phonecalls

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• Inflight mobile phone trials slammed

"I am sure other airlines will introduce it but in time they will turn it off," he told Times Online.

The airline will have broadband and WiFi across its fleet, he said, but the airline is the first to say 'no' to live calls. Air France has already introduced calls on some flights and Ryanair plans to introduce the facility in June.

Qatar is also ready to start tests with Rolls Royce, GE, Shell and other partners on a new Gas-to Liquids (GTL) and kerosene fuel mix which could be used for existing jet engines.

The trial starts next month, with Qatar claiming the mix will result in lesser carbon emissions and will allow aircraft to travel longer on the same amount of fuel.

Qatar has the world's third largest gas reserves and the airline is to build a GTL plant costing $US13bn in Qatar, close to a new airport being built in Doha for 2011.

The existing airport, meanwhile, it to have a further US$500m spent on it to cater for increased traffic - then it will be razed to the ground in three years time.

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