Leaders of several major U.S. airlines and shipping companies have warned that the planned launch of the 5G service could have “disastrous” consequences for travelers and businesses.
CEOS on Wednesday demanded “immediate intervention” from the government before the planes were shut down by a 5G service deployed by AT&T and Verizon.
In a letter signed by the CEO of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and others, “If our main hubs are not cleaned for flights, the majority of the travel and freight community will be largely unfounded.”
The letter, which was sent to several government agencies, said they feared the 5G service would interfere with precision instruments that measure altitude on some planes, with the result that flight disruptions could “leave tens of thousands of Americans abroad.”
“This means that as of yesterday, more than 1,100 flights a day and 100,000 passengers will be canceled, diverted or delayed,” the letter said.
Managers have warned that any disruptions in service will also affect the supply chain.
“Frankly, the country’s trade will stop,” the letter said.
Leaders have called for the introduction of 5G “all over the country, except for about 2 miles of runways at affected airports designated by the FAA.”
The letter was addressed to senior government officials, including White House National Economic Council Director Brian Diz, Transport Secretary Pete Buttigig and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Steve Dixon.
In response to the letter, the FAA said “wireless companies will continue to ensure the safety of travelers as they install 5G.” The FAA continues to work with the aviation industry and wireless companies to limit 5G-related flight delays and cancellations.
Over the weekend, the FAA said it had cleared about 45 percent of the U.S. commercial aircraft fleet to make low-visibility landings at airports affected by 5G network lighting.
The Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Transportation did not immediately comment, Acesparks reported.
The letter is the culmination of a long-running dispute between AT&T and Verizon and U.S. airlines. Earlier this month, telecom firms agreed to delay the launch of 5G for another two weeks due to security concerns. The companies also said they would apply mitigation zones as well as other safety measures to prevent noise near airports for six months.
AT&T and Verizon paid nearly $ 70 billion in auctions last year for the right to build 5G C-band networks.
With post wires
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