AS AIRLINES struggle with high fuel prices, they have been looking for new ways to generate "ancillary revenues". This week JetBlue, an American airline, said it would start charging $7 for a pillow and blanket on some flights. Other airlines are demanding extra to check in luggage, or for more legroom. And as the regulatory hurdles to using mobile phones on planes continue to fall, airlines are salivating at the idea of charging passengers $2.50 a minute to make calls and 50 cents for a text message.

It should come as no surprise that Ryanair, the leading European low-cost carrier, which generated EURO488m ($690m) in ancillary revenue last year, is one of the most enthusiastic proponents of in-flight calling. It plans to fit its entire fleet with the necessary equipment, which is being provided by OnAir, an in-flight communications provider backed by Airbus, Europe's planemaking giant. Oman Air, TAP Portugal, bmi and AirAsia are also adopting OnAir's technology. AeroMobile, a rival technology provider, has signed up airlines including Emirates, Qantas and Turkish Airlines. ...

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