Emirates passengers make an average of 3.000 phone calls on board flights each month via the airline's satellite communications system called EMTEL, says a press release.

This is a 50 per cent increase over a year ago, and represents the world's highest user rate of all commercial airlines, according to SITA, the leading provider of integrated telecommunications and information solutions for the air transport industry.

SITA's records show that Emirates holds the record for the highest monthly average call attempts per aircraft, which stands at 289.81. The highest was recorded in September this year, at 841 call attempts made on board an Emirates Boeing 777.

Emirates management attributes the impressive user record to a bold decision earlier this year to slash service charges by 20 per cent. Emirates now charges its passengers US $6.50 for per minute transmission — the lowest rate by a commercial carrier for air-to-ground transmissions in international airspace.

Don Foster. Emirates' Director Service Delivery, said: 'We wanted to encourage higher user rate by making the service more affordable. We are pleased that it has worked, allowing our passengers to keep in touch with their loved ones or people at work, when travelling on board Emirates. We are keen to reduce, prices even further and are working with our telecommunications partners in this endeavour."

The highest usage has been recorded on Emirates flight to London, to which the airline operates three daily flights into Heathrow and once-a-day to Gatwick.