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The chief executives of America’s largest airlines have warned about a catastrophic disruption to travel and shipping operations if telecommunication companies roll out their 5G technology without limiting the technology near US airports. Point to be noted that Verizon and AT&T have already delayed the launch of their new C-Band 5G service twice due to warnings from airlines and aircraft manufacturers concerned that the new system might interfere with the devices planes use to measure altitude. The CEOs said, “We are writing with urgency to request that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate two miles of airport runways as defined by the FAA on January 19, 2022”. They wrote letters to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other US government officials and highlighted the risk of economic calamity.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it had approved some transponders to be safely operated within areas where 5G will be deployed, clearing as many as 48 of the 88 airports most directly affected by 5G C-Band interference. But the airlines are worried that remaining limitations at those airports, as well as a large amount of equipment still uncertified, could trigger a crisis including the grounding of thousands of flights. The lack of certified planes could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas. A news outlet reported that carriers late on Monday were thinking of scrapping some international flights due to getting to the US on Wednesday. United Airlines said, “The federal government’s current 5G rollout plan will have a devastating impact on aviation, negatively affecting an estimated 1.25 million passengers of United Airlines”.

The Airline also said that at least 15,000 flights and much-needed goods and tons of cargo travel through more than 40 of the largest airports in the country annually. US airlines also protested against the potential costs incurred. The executives called on authorities to take whatever action necessary to ensure that 5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption. The letter was signed by CEOs of major airlines including American, United, Delta, Southwest, FedEx, and UPS. They wrote, “Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies”. The FAA released a brief statement and said they are seeking to allay concerns about the 5G rollout’s impact on aviation.