Dubai (PTI): Dubai-based Emirates airline on Thursday said it has become the first airline in the world to commercially launch an inflight mobile phone service. The first authorised mobile phone call was made from a commercial flight at the height of 30,000 feet en route to Casablanca, Morocco.

The call was made onboard an Emirates Airbus A340-300 aircraft - the first in the airline's fleet to be equipped with the AeroMobile system, an airline statement said. The airline will be investing USD 27 million to fit its fleet with the AeroMobile system which ensures that passenger mobile phones operate at their absolute minimum power, thereby allowing their safe use on the aircraft.

A second Emirates aircraft, a Boeing 777-300, has already been installed with the AeroMobile system and will be in operation very shortly, it said. In addition to calls, the service will also allow passengers to send and receive text messages, with charges in line with premium international roaming rates. Users will be billed on their regular phone bills by their own service providers as with any other roaming call.