India-US Flights Cancelled Due to Deployment Of 5G Services

Telecommunication companies AT&T and Verizon both announced on 18 January that they would delay activating 5G on some towers around certain airports.

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New Delhi: The deployment of new 5G services in the US, which is scheduled to commence from 19 January, has created a problem for the aviation industry.

Airlines cancelled or curtailed some flights to and from the US over this issue and several international airlines, including Air India have announced their decision to cancel flights into the US.

This is because the aircraft's navigation systems could interrupt the signals emanating from new 5G phone service.

Federal Aviation Administration, the US aviation regulator stated on January 14 that 5G interference with the aircraft's radio altimeter could prevent engine and braking systems from transitioning to landing mode, which could in turn prevent an aircraft from stopping on the runway.

Air India shared this news through a series of tweets posted in their official Twitter handle.

#FlyAI: Due to deployment of 5G communications in USA, our operations to USA from India stand curtailed/revised with change in aircraft type from 19th January 2022. Update in this regard will be informed shortly.
— Air India (@airindiain) January 18, 2022

#FlyAI: Passengers scheduled to fly to Washington DC from Delhi by AI103 of 19th January' 22 may kindly note the flight will operate as per schedule.Please stand by for updates regarding departures to other USA destinations.https://t.co/3RGQLhpVKS
— Air India (@airindiain) January 18, 2022

Air India is not the only airline to have canceled flights into the US over the issue of deployment of the 5G service.

UAE based airliner Emirates said that due to operational concerns associated with the planned deployment of 5G mobile network services in the US at certain airports, it will be suspending flights from January 19 until further notice to Boston, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle.

Delta said it has joined other airlines in seeking a delay by the US government of the deployment of the new 5G coverage into the C-band spectrum and the airline has added that the impact on air travel could be immediate and significant, directly impacting passenger travel and cargo shipping.

The CEOs of major carriers, including Delta CEO Ed Bastian, wrote a letter coordinated by Airlines for America to government officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, warning that the nation's commerce will come to a standstill.

Meanwhile, telecommunication companies AT&T and Verizon both announced on 18 January that they would delay activating 5G on some towers around certain airports.

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