Tablet use soars among U.S. airline passengers

Passengers are increasingly relying on their tablets and other personal electronic devices for entertainment and work on U.S. domestic flights, despite a ban on their use during takeoff and landing, a study concludes.

The use of electronic devices, from laptops to tablets to smartphones, rose 24.3% this year over last year, according to the study by the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University. Researchers observed 1,688 passengers on 23 flights operated by six airlines at randomly selected points when at cruising altitude. The share of passengers using electronic devices rose for the fourth consecutive year. At randomly selected points, 35.3% of passengers were engaged with their devices, compared with 17.6% in 2010. The increase in tablet and e-reader use was most significant, from 8.4% in 2012 to 10.7% in 2013. At any given point, more than one in nine passengers was using a tablet. The popularity of the devices reflects advances in technology, broader use among all demographics, and tech-friendly investments by airlines.