by Tim Hepher and David Shepardson
Jan 19 (Reuters) – Some of the world’s major airlines have changed or suspended flights to the United States ahead of the rollout of new 5G services in the country on Wednesday.
The US Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) has warned that potential risks of interference could affect certain sensitive instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low visibility operations. nL8N2TY1XI
Although telecom operators AT&T TN and Verizon
VZ.N, which won almost all of the C-band spectrum in the United States, agreed to delay the rollout of their 5G services near airports, several airlines preferred to cancel their flights or change their service model. ‘airplane.
Other companies said cancellations were likely unless the FAA issues new official guidance following announcements from the two telecom carriers.
Several airlines, including Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines 9201.T, Korean Air Lines 003490.KS, China Airlines 2610.TW or Cathay Pacific Airways 0293.HK, have announced that they will suspend flights to the United States or that they wouldn’t use Boeing planes
BA.N for their flights to and within the United States.
The airlines said they made the move in response to advice from Boeing that 5G signals could interfere with the 777’s radio altimeter.
A Boeing spokesperson had no immediate comment.
(With Jamie Freed in Sydney, Ed Copley in London, Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, Lilian Wagdy and Moataz Mohamed in Cairo; French version Camille Raynaud)