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The regulator, which had been examining the proposals since last year, says the plans are subject to approval by the relevant UK and European aviation bodies.

Ofcom says the policy has been developed with other European Union countries and the system could be used in European airspace.

Under the

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plans, airlines wishing to provide the service would allow passengers to use their own handsets once the aircraft reaches a minimum height of 3,000 meters. They would not be allowed during take-off and landing for safety reasons.

The system would work by connecting the mobile phone to an onboard base station to make and receive calls which would then be billed through the passenger's normal service provider - no doubt at a premium rate.

"The safety of passengers is paramount and mobile systems on aircraft will only be installed when they have secured approval by the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK," Ofcom states.

"If such approval has been secured it will be a matter for individual airlines to judge whether there is consumer demand for these services."

BMI is among the airlines eager to offer their passengers a mobile service.