Phone on flight mode now allowed on airlines?

Beijing: Passengers can now use mobile phones in flight mode on many Chinese airlines, according to a media report.

According to the South China Morning Post, several Chinese airlines lifted the restriction which did not apply to tablets and laptops.

China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines were the first to lift the ban from Thursday.

China's civil aviation authority in September said it would leave it to carriers to decide on whether to allow phones to be used on flights.

Spring Airlines, the country's largest budget carrier, followed suit on Thursday, announcing that it will allow mobile phones to be used in flight mode from next month.

China's restrictions on the use of portable electronic devices on flights came with tough penalties - any violation of cabin rules is deemed to be damaging public order and can result in up to 10 days' detention.