PICTURE the scene. You've watched the safety video, eaten your in-flight meal and endured the film.

You've read the magazine and made small talk with the passenger sitting next to you - now it's time for a sleep.

Cue annoying ringtones, noisy text alerts and even noisier voices because mobile phones are no longer banned in the air.

This scene is not yet reality but is coming to a plane near you as soon as a few remaining technological hurdles have been overcome.

But is it good news for passengers keen to keep in touch with the outside world or the destruction of the last remaining mobile-free zone known to man?

At Bournemouth Airport passengers were unanimous in their horror that their peace and quiet is about to be ruined.

"I have two mobile phones which go everywhere with me but I really like being on a plane because it is the one place that no one can contact me," said Scott Dawson from Southampton.

"Why would I want to be sitting next to someone involved in a lengthy telephone call? There would be a huge annoyance factor."

Tim Weeks from Sturminster Newton added: "I do not think it is a good idea - it would annoy me if I was sitting on a plane and someone was chirping away next to me."

And Constance Rowbotham from the Isle of Wight said: "If I was on a long flight and I wanted to go to sleep it would definitely be a problem."

Their comments will be music to the ears of Bournemouth-based Palmair managing director David Skillicorn who said he will have to be "dragged kicking and screaming into allowing mobile phones on flights.

"We will not be at the front edge of this. I think our passengers are happy with the way things are," he added.

"We don't even have movies on our flights because I think passengers realise it is just another way of forcing advertising down their throats."

Mr Skillicorn said he believes all airlines throughout the world will eventually allow passengers to use phones and added: "I am quite certain that the business community is crying out for this facility.

"However, the prospect of having to sit for hours listening to someone jabbering on a mobile phone is pretty irritating."

Passenger Andrew Tuffin, flying to Grenoble yesterday said: "It doesn't bother me that I can't use my phone," while Polly Dawson added: "I prefer things the way they are, particularly for a long-haul flight. It is nice to be able to switch my phone off."

Communications regulator Ofcom has given the all-clear for British aircraft to install systems to allow phone use, which means airlines can apply for the wavelengths needed to make calls in the air.

Aircraft will be able to link up with mobile operators via satellite and passengers would pay a roaming rate and be billed by their phone companies as normal.

It is not yet known how much calls will cost but they are expected to be expensive as airlines, service providers, satellite providers and on-ground networks will all want a share of the cash.

Although many aircraft already offer on-board phone services, passengers in Europe are banned from using their own handsets.