BITKOM survey reveals secret mobile phone use above the clouds, especially among younger people

According to a new survey of 1,006 people aged 16 and over conducted by the Berlin-based digital association BITKOM, 42 percent of German air travellers have secretly used a technical device without flight mode during a flight.

Older people comply with the rules

Among younger air travellers aged 16 to 29, the figure is even higher at 54 per cent, while most of the 65+ generation (18 per cent) comply with the regulations.

“Airplane mode is designed to prevent electronic devices from interfering with on-board technology and radio communications. However, some airlines now allow the use of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth during flights because modern systems are better shielded,” says BITKOM expert Sebastian Klöß.

Take-off and landing critical

According to experts, flight mode remains a safety precaution, especially at the beginning and end of a flight, and should not be ignored lightly. For many, this should not be too much of a problem, as they plan for offline time on the plane.

Almost a third (31 percent) usually download music or films before a flight. The current survey also shows that this is much more common among younger people (47 percent) than among older people (15 percent).