Virgin Atlantic to Add In-Flight Texting

Virgin Atlantic said last week it plans to introduce the world´s first in-flight texting service, which will allow passengers to have questions answered on any topic at 35,000 feet.

Passengers will be able to text questions from their seat-back television screens to an existing land-based text answer service which promises to answer any question within minutes.

“It´s a great way to ask for a recommended bar in New York, what´s the best way to get over jet lag, or what´s the best way to chat up the cabin crew,” a Virgin spokeswoman said.

Airlines globally are scrambling to find new ways of increasing non-ticket sales and getting more passengers onto planes with the promise of more luxurious and fun ways to pass the time in the air.

Low-cost carriers like Ryanair plan to introduce in-flight gambling to earn extra passenger dollars and hopes the use of mobile phones on planes will eventually boost its coffers.