After Air France passengers expressed disappointment at the quality of in-flight mobile calls, the irksome innovation has received another blow following a decision by Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways to ban voice calls altogether on flights.

Despite equipping its fleet of 62 aircraft with mobile-communications technology, the airline says the decision to gag voice calls was a response to passenger pressure, with 80% of passengers voting against the service.

“We will have the facility on board – it’s just a question of flicking a switch. But we have decided not to allow mobile calls on planes for a very simple reason – comfort. We don’t want people to start speaking loudly in the cabin on a night flight,” said Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al Baker. “I am sure other airlines will introduce it, but, in time, they will turn it off.” Accordingly, the Travel section would like briefly to suspend its editorial impartiality and say what a wonderful, sensible airline Qatar is.

Meanwhile, Ryanair is planning to introduce an in-flight calling service on 25 of its fleet from next month.