The airlines have warned that the new C-Band 5G service, which is set to launch on Wednesday, may render a significant number of widebody aircraft inoperable, "could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas," and cause "chaos" for US flights."Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will be essentially grounded," wrote the CEOs of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and other airlines in a letter first reported by Reuters.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning that potential interference could affect sensitive airplane instruments such as altimeters and severely impede low-visibility operations.
"This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be cancelled, diverted, or delayed," the letter warned.
Airlines were debating whether to cancel some international flights scheduled to arrive in the United States on Wednesday late on Monday.
"The transportation industry is bracing for some service disruption as a result of the proposed restrictions at certain airports. We are optimistic that we will be able to collaborate across industries and with the government to develop solutions that will safely mitigate as many schedule impacts as possible "Boeing announced this on Monday.
The airlines added that action is required immediately in the letter, which was also signed by UPS Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Atlas Air, JetBlue Airways, and FedEx Express. "To put it bluntly, the nation's commerce will come to a halt."
The letter was addressed to White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, and FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
The letter's organizers, Airlines for America, declined to comment. According to the FAA, "will continue to ensure the safety of the traveling public as wireless companies roll out 5G. The FAA is continuing to collaborate with the aviation industry and wireless companies in an effort to reduce 5G-related flight delays and cancellations."
The other government agencies remained silent.
'INTERVENTION IS REQUIRED.'
AT&T and Verizon, which won nearly all of the C-Band spectrum in a $80 billion auction last year, agreed on Jan. 3 to set up buffer zones around 50 airports to reduce interference risks and take other precautions for six months. They also agreed to postpone deployment for two weeks until Wednesday, averting a temporary aviation safety standoff, after previously postponing service for 30 days.
On Monday, Verizon and AT&T declined to comment. They claim that C-Band 5G has been successfully deployed in approximately 40 other countries without causing aviation interference.
Officials told Reuters that the CEOs of major airlines, as well as Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun, held a lengthy call with Buttigieg and Dickson on Sunday to warn them of the impending crisis.
Separately, United Airlines warned late Monday that the issue could affect more than 15,000 of its flights, 1.25 million passengers, and snarl tons of cargo annually.
United stated that it is subject to "significant restrictions on 787s, 777s, 737s, and regional aircraft in major cities such as Houston, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago."
The airlines request that "5G be implemented throughout the country except within approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) of airport runways" at a few key airports.
"Immediate intervention is required to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, the supply chain, and the delivery of critical medical supplies," they said.
Flight restrictions will not be limited to poor weather operations, according to the airlines.
"Multiple modern safety systems on aircraft will be deemed inoperable, resulting in a much larger problem than we previously imagined... Airplane manufacturers have informed us that large swaths of the operating fleet may need to be grounded indefinitely."
According to airline officials, one source of concern is whether some or all Boeing 777s, as well as some Boeing cargo planes, will be unable to land at some key U.S. airports once 5G service is launched.
The airlines urged the FAA to take action to ensure that "5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be done safely without catastrophic disruption."
The FAA announced on Sunday that it had cleared an estimated 45 percent of the US commercial airplane fleet to perform low-visibility landings at many airports where 5G C-band will be deployed, and that more approvals are expected before Wednesday. The airlines pointed out on Monday that the list lacked a number of major airports.