AFA-CWA Efforts Cited as Cell Phone Ban on Planes Remains

Protests by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and its members is being cited as a big reason the FCC announced this week that it is dropping its inquiry into lifting the ban on cell phone use on airplanes during flight.

The FCC received 8,000 comments from the public since it opened the inquiry – mostly against lifting the ban.  A New York Times story this week stated:  "A large number of the letters relied on lines suggested by the (AFA-CWA):  'The introduction of cell phone use in the cabin will not only increase tension among passengers, it will compromise flight attendants' ability to maintain order in an emergency.' "