In an attempt to test the usefulness of the highly popular Apple iPad in the workplace, the UK’s flagship carrier British Airways (BA) has issued iPad 2’s to 120 members of its cabin crew, so as to help them offer a more ‘personalised’ service to the passengers.

The move marks BA’s field testing of the iPad 2 as replacements for the old paper manifest, along with the use of the coveted tablet in offering passenger profiles, live seating layouts, and special food requests.

The decision of the airline to shift from paper to the iPad is essentially aimed at providing the cabin crew with better equipment, in order that they may be able to offer ‘better customer service.’

Since iPads can hold a wide range of information to assist the cabin crew in learning about the individual requirements of the passengers, BA intends issuing a total of 1,800 iPads to its cabin crew in the coming months. The iPads will help the staff keep track of the needs and preferences of the passengers, especially those who fly frequently.

In fact, it is also being rumored that the airline may hand out the tablet computer to its first class passengers as part of their in-flight entertainment.

Noting that the possibilities for the future use of the iPad by the carrier are endless, BA's in-flight customer chief, Bill Francis, said: “We're receiving great feedback from cabin crew and customers already. It allows the crew to offer the thoughtful service they want to deliver and customers are treated as valued guests.”