is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.
Delta and JetBlue have become the first two US airlines to allow e-readers, tablets, and other electronic devices to be used throughout the flight. Following the FAA’s recommendation that travelers be allowed to use gadgets from gate to gate, both companies indicated yesterday that they had put in applications for approval. The FAA has now officially said that their testing results, policy tweaks, and training changes are up to par. “As of 4:15 PM today, Delta officially received approval from the FAA for their plan to allow [personal electronic device] use from gate to gate, effective immediately,” a Delta spokesperson tells The Verge.
A photo from a JetBlue flight today (embedded below) also confirms the change. We’ve reached out to the FAA, JetBlue, and also American Airlines — which has indicated it will move quickly to adopt the new policies — for more details. On Twitter, a report from Runway Girl Network says that JetBlue has given passengers the go ahead to use their devices during takeoff and landing.
FAA says it is aware that both Delta and JetBlue are now informing passengers they have approval to permit PED use gate-to-gate. #PaxEx
— Runway Girl Network (@RunwayGirl) November 1, 2013
Passengers on one of the first flights to allow gadget use before takeoff and landing. http://t.co/ThBQ4ABpuD pic.twitter.com/FwKTVcbaHJ
— Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) November 1, 2013
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.