Some airlines are debating whether to cancel some overseas flights scheduled to arrive in the United States on Wednesday.
Many large American passenger and cargo airlines have issued a “catastrophic” warning about an oncoming “catastrophic” crisis that might occur in less than two days when telecoms companies launch a new 5G service.
The airlines have warned that the new C-Band 5G service, which will be launched by AT&T and Verizon on Wednesday, might render a large proportion of widebody planes useless.
They also warned that it might also “potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas” and cause “chaos” for US airlines.
“Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded,” writes the chief executives of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others.
Potential interference, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), might impair sensitive airliner instruments like altimeters and considerably impede low-visibility operations.
“This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays,” the letter warned.
On Monday, some airlines were debating whether to cancel some overseas flights scheduled to arrive in the United States on Wednesday.
“With the proposed restrictions at selected airports, the transportation industry is preparing for some service disruption. We are optimistic that we can work across industries and with government to finalize solutions that safely mitigate as many schedule impacts as possible,” plane maker Boeing said on Monday.
The letter calling for urgent action was also signed by UPS Airlines, Alaska Air, Atlas Air, JetBlue Airways and FedEx Express.
“To be blunt, the nation’s commerce will grind to a halt,” it claimed.
The FAA has said it “will continue to ensure that the traveling public is safe as wireless companies deploy 5G. The FAA continues to work with the aviation industry and wireless companies to try to limit 5G-related flight delays and cancellations”.
AT&T and Verizon agreed to establish buffer zones around 50 airports to mitigate the potential of interference.
They also decided to postpone deployment for two weeks, till Wednesday, after a 30-day postponement earlier.
Telecommunications companies claim that C-Band 5G has been successfully deployed in more than 40 other countries without interfering with flight operations.
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