Does your ears pop when you’re flying on an airplane? one third of all passengers will experience this ear pain at least once.

So, Why do your ears pop in airplanes?

Rapid changes in air pressure inside the aircraft cause the air pocket inside the ear to expand during takeoff and contract during descent, stretching the eardrum. To equalize pressure, air must enter or escape through the Eustachian tube.

Some people experience ear discomfort, pain, temporary hearing loss. This condition is called aerotitus and one third of all passengers will experience this ear pain at least once.

The air pocket inside the middle ear expand during takeoff and landing and this stretches the eardrum. Air must enter and escape through the Eustachian tube in the ear to normalize the ear drum. The Eustachian tube sometimes has difficulty keeping up with the rapid changes in air pressure during takeoff and landing.

What You Can Do

• Try Swallowing - Swallowing forces the eustachian tube to open and forces your ears to pop.
• Chew gum.
• Give your baby a pacifier or bottle.

The 27-member European Union (EU) announced on Monday that it would allow air travelers to use their mobile phones to talk, send text messages or e-mails during their flight in the European airspace.

Users will be charged by their existing service providers according to rates set by them, the airline and their network operator. European officials have warned consumers to expect higher fees because of the costs involved to set up the onboard networks on planes.