"5G Risks at US Airports" Airlines Worldwide Change or Cancel US Routes One After Another

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Ahead of the commercialization of mid-band 5G services in the United States, major airlines from various countries have been rushing to cancel and change flights bound for the U.S. This move comes amid concerns that the 5G frequency bands to be used near some U.S. airports are close to the operating bands of aircraft altimeters, which could adversely affect flight operations.

According to local media such as CNN on the 19th (local time), Emirates Airlines, Air India, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines (JAL), Lufthansa, British Airways, and others have announced changes to some flights for these reasons.

Emirates Airlines announced that it will suspend operations from nine U.S. airports including Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, San Francisco, and Seattle. However, flights to New York JFK Airport, Los Angeles (L.A.) International Airport, and Washington D.C. area Dulles Airport will continue to operate.

In a statement, Emirates Airlines said, "Flight cancellations are inevitable due to issues related to the upcoming 5G service at some U.S. airports," adding, "We are working closely with aircraft manufacturers and relevant authorities to mitigate operational concerns. We hope to resume U.S. services as soon as possible."

Air India also decided to suspend flights to Delhi, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York (JFK). Flights between Mumbai and Newark will also be suspended. However, flights to Washington Dulles will be maintained.

ANA and JAL have canceled some flights using Boeing 777 aircraft to the U.S. Instead, they will operate using Boeing 787 aircraft. ANA stated, "The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that 5G radio frequencies could interfere with aircraft altimeter operations," and "Boeing also announced restrictions on flights for all airlines operating Boeing 777 aircraft," explaining the reason for cancellations.

German Lufthansa canceled flights between Frankfurt and Miami. Lufthansa also announced that it will replace Boeing 747-8 aircraft used on flights from Frankfurt to Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco with Boeing 747-400 aircraft. A British Airways spokesperson also stated, "We had to implement some cancellations."

In addition, it is reported that several airlines, including Korean Air, have taken measures such as changing aircraft deployed on U.S. routes. The launch of this mid-band 5G service is said to particularly affect Boeing 777 aircraft used for long-haul flights. Virgin Atlantic and Air France-KLM have not yet changed their flights but are monitoring the situation.

U.S. carriers AT&T and Verizon have been transitioning their existing 5G services using ultra-high frequency bands such as 28 GHz to mid-band services called "C-band," which operate in the 3.7?4.2 GHz range. However, the aviation industry believes that mid-band 5G signals could interfere with aircraft radio altimeters operating in the same frequency band, potentially disrupting takeoff and landing.

Accordingly, the commercialization date for 5G services, originally scheduled for December 5 last year, has been postponed more than twice. The day before, AT&T and Verizon announced another delay in the introduction of 5G services near some U.S. airports, which was scheduled to begin on the 19th. Earlier, on the 17th, U.S. aviation-related organizations sent a letter to the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator requesting a delay in 5G service deployment.