Should voice calls be allowed on flights?

In-flight phone calls could be coming to a seat near you. Photo: AFP

It's the one safe zone where people are exempt from having to listen in on personal phone calls and family dramas.

But a loophole in air travel regulations could allow fliers to place in-flight phone calls as long as travellers are notified of the service before their ticket purchase. In a bid to preemptively address concerns about voice calls aboard planes, the US Department Of Transportation (DOT) has put forth a proposal that would require airlines and ticket agents to disclose availability of the service ahead of time.