Over fears of interfering with key safety systems, airlines worldwide are adjusting flight schedules and aircraft deployments to fly to the U.S. A 5G rollout by AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. near American airports has caused the airlines to rethink their scheduling and deployment.
The Dubai-based airline Emirates announced it is suspending flights to several U.S. cities, including Chicago, Newark, and San Francisco. After Boeing Co. issued a warning, Japan Airlines Co. and ANA Holdings Inc. announced Tuesday they will stop flying 777s to and from the U.S. mainland and will drop some routes.
Air India also warned flights to the U.S. will be curtailed or revised from Jan. 19 as a result of the 5G service. Korea Air Lines Co. said its 777 and 747-8 aircraft will be affected, so it is rearranging its fleet.
The issue stems from the possibility that sensitive navigation equipment that is used during landing in poor weather could be interfered with, leading to “catastrophic disruptions,” according to a trade association representing major U.S. airlines. Among the frequency bands within the so-called C-band being used for 5G are those used by aircraft radar altimeters to track altitude and to facilitate landings in bad weather; many safety systems are connected to these frequencies.
After last-minute discussions with government officials over safety concerns, AT&T and Verizon agreed to delay the switchover of hundreds of 5G cell towers near U.S. airports. In a government auction last year, the companies spent billions of dollars on the rights, but they didn’t say how long the suspension might last or how large the zone surrounding airports would be.
