Mobile communications on an aircraft are more than air-to-ground interactions that take place in the cockpit. Today, passengers can use their mobile devices at cruising altitude in an aircraft to call, text and e-mail colleagues, friends and family, just as if they were on the ground. In the future, real-time connectivity will offer passengers the opportunity to plan their travels en route, and give airlines a way to improve their customer service while increasing ancillary revenues and reducing costs.