Budget airline Ryanair today launched Europe's first fleet-wide in-flight mobile phone service allowing passengers to text and make calls from their own handsets.

State of the art technology has already been fitted on 20 of the carrier's mainly Dublin-based aircraft as part of a six month trial - the first step in fitting out the entire fleet.

Ryanair boss Micheal O'Leary said he expects the service to be popular, particularly with teenagers and tourists looking to keep in touch while travelling.

'It's your choice whether you want to use it or not,' Mr O'Leary said.

'Certainly I think it will be very welcome for people who want to make and receive urgent or important calls.

'I think the big users here would be teenagers, people generally visiting friends and family.'

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