Airlines cancel U.S. flights amid 5G concerns despite carriers’ promise to delay rollout
Global News
Despite an announcement by AT&T and Verizon that they would delay turning on some 5G towers near airports, several airlines still canceled flights.
Major international airlines rushed on Tuesday to rejig or cancel flights to the United States on the eve of a 5G wireless rollout that triggered safety concerns, despite two wireless carriers saying they will delay parts of the deployment.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that potential 5G interference could affect height readings that play a key role in bad-weather landings on some jets and airlines say the Boeing 777 is among models initially in the spotlight.
Despite an announcement by AT&T and Verizon that they would delay turning on some 5G towers near airports, several airlines still canceled flights. Others said more cancellations were likely unless the FAA issued new formal guidance in the wake of the wireless announcements.
“While this is a positive development toward preventing widespread disruptions to flight operations, some flight restrictions may remain,” Delta Air Lines said.
The world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777, Dubai’s Emirates, said it would suspend flights to nine U.S. destinations from Jan. 19, the planned date for the deployment of 5G wireless services.
Emirates flights to New York’s JFK, Los Angeles and Washington DC will continue to operate.
Japan’s two major airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, said they would curtail Boeing 777 flights.
ANA said it was cancelling or changing the aircraft used on some U.S. flights. JAL said it would not use the 777 on U.S. mainland routes “until safety is confirmed,” according to a notice to passengers reported by airline publication Skift.