British Airways will become the first airline in Europe to allow its customers to use their handheld electronic devices during taxiing, take off and landing.

Following acceptance by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the move means from today (December 19), British Airways customers will be able to use their tablet devices, phones and eReaders in ‘flight safe’ mode from the moment they board their flight to the second they leave it. 

British Airways has demonstrated to the CAA, that the changes will comply with all existing safety rules and regulations.

Captain Ian Pringle, British Airways’ flight training manager, said: “We know that our customers want to use their handheld electronic devices more, so this will be very welcome news for them.

“The easing of restrictions will provide an average of 30 minutes additional personal screen time. With around 300 people on a long-haul flight that will mean a combined total of approximately 150 hours extra viewing, reading or working!

“We are incredibly pleased to be the first airline in Europe to introduce these changes which will be of great benefit to our customers on any British Airways flight anywhere in the world.”

Earlier this year, British Airways was the first European airline to allow their customers to use mobile phones and other handheld electronic devices to call, text and send emails, after their aircraft has landed and taxied off the runway.

It was also the first UK airline to allow customers on long-haul services to watch in-flight entertainment from gate to gate.

Further underlining its commitment to innovation, British Airways has connectivity on its double daily London City to New York service, which enables customers to send and receive texts and data.