US Considers Plan Giving Fliers Option to Make Wi-Fi Calls

— -- The Department of Transportation recently announced a proposal to require airlines to disclose whether their flights allow passengers to make voice calls via Wi-Fi.

"Consumers deserve to have clear and accurate information about whether an airline permits voice calls before they purchase a ticket and board the aircraft," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx in a news release Thursday. "Today's proposal will ensure that air travelers are not unwillingly exposed to voice calls, as many of them are troubled over the idea of passengers talking on cellphones in flight."

But Gogo, an in-flight internet service, said it wasn't optimistic, however.

"We have the ability to enable voice calls for some time now. The technology has existed for a very long time but the truth of the matter is passengers don't want it," said Steve Nolan, vice president of communication for Gogo. "Frankly our commercial airline partners don't want it, so we just haven't enabled it to date. It doesn't mean it can't be done."

Flight attendants agreed, saying, "Anything short of banning voice calls is reckless."

"The American public does not want voice communication in flight," said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. "It threatens aviation security and increases the likelihood of conflict in the skies. It threatens safety for crews and passengers. AFA will continue to press for a complete ban of in-flight voice calls. No calls on planes. Period."

In a statement, the trade group Airlines for America told ABC News: "We are not aware of any carriers that plan to allow voice calls."

"We have long held that this was not a matter for DOT [the Department of Transportation] to regulate, and we believe airlines should be able to determine what services can be safely offered in flight and make those decisions based on what is in the best interests of their passengers and crewmembers," the trade group said.

The Department of Transportation said it was also seeking comment on whether disclosure is sufficient or whether it should simply ban voice calls on flights within, to, or from the United States.

Members of the public have 60 days to comment on this proposed rule.

ABC News' David Kerley and Erin Dooley contributed to this story.