Aviation

Poll: Majority of airline passengers would pay to sit in ‘quiet zone’

A majority of commercial airline passengers would be willing to pay extra to sit in a “quiet zone” if travelers are allowed to talk on their cell phones during flights, according to a poll reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The poll found 53 percent of passengers said they would pay for a quiet zone, which would be similar to quiet cars on Amtrak trains, the report said.

{mosads}The findings come after debate arise in Congress about the possibility of lifting the decades-old ban on mid-air phone calls after a separate ruling by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that passengers could keep their portable electronic devices on safely.

Several lawmakers condemned the proposal to allow in-flight phone calls, and a pair of bills were introduced in the House and Senate to permanently enshrine the current ban.