By Chantal Da Silva, Jay Blackman and Reuters -
NBC News
Major airlines around the world scrambled to cancel or change flights to the United States on Wednesday ahead of the launch of a new 5G wireless service that has raised security concerns.
The effect came despite Verizon and AT&T agreeing to temporarily delay the launch of new C-band 5G service around some airports, after airline bosses warned it could cause "catastrophic" outages.
Several airlines have opted to cancel or switch aircraft models for flights to the United States following warnings that the 5G rollout could potentially interfere with signals used by radio altimeters, which help pilots land safely in low-light operations. visibility, on some jets and airplanes.
[5G expansion continues after two-week delay]
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began updating its guidance on which airports and aircraft models could be affected by the 5G rollout late Tuesday, and the issue appears to be affecting the Boeing 777 in particular. a long-range, wide-body aircraft used by airlines around the world.
Emirates, of Dubai, announced that it would suspend flights to at least nine destinations in the United States from Wednesday, according to the Reuters news agency.
Flights to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, as well as to Los Angeles and Washington DC, were expected to continue operating.
The airline is the world's largest operator of the 777, according to its website.
Meanwhile, Japan's two major carriers, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, said they would also retain Boeing 777 flights to the United States, with the former saying it would cancel or change the aircraft used on some flights.
Korean Air Lines, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air India and Taiwan's China Airlines have also announced changes to their flights.
A Singapore Airlines spokesperson told our sister network NBC News that the airline had changed the aircraft used on certain US routes "based on guidance from Boeing and in consultation with our regulators."
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Like Singapore Airlines, several other carriers have announced they may have changed flights based on guidance from Boeing.
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
Emirates Airline Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates, on February 15, 2019. Christopher Pike / REUTERS
Delta Air Lines said it was also preparing for the possibility of weather-related cancellations caused by the rollout of new 5G service.
Delta's executive vice president and chief operating officer, John Laughter, said Tuesday that the company appreciated the telcos' decision to limit deployment.
[United Airlines plane lands safely after engine failure and losing parts that fell in a Colorado neighborhood]
"We believe that industries can grow, innovate and coexist to the benefit of consumers," Laughter said.
“That is why we continue to work with the FAA, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the telecommunications industry to find a practical solution that allows the deployment of 5G technology while preserving the security and avoid flight interruptions," he concluded.
This is the impact that the 5G network can have near airports
Jan. 18, 202202:44
The statement came after Delta and other major U.S. carriers, including American Airlines and United Airlines, sent a letter Monday to U.S. transportation and economic officials warning that the deployment of 5G technology from the Wednesday could cause major disruptions.
In response, both AT&T and Verizon agreed Tuesday to temporarily limit 5G service around some US airports, having already delayed rolling out the service for two weeks over the same concerns.
Verizon announced that while it would go ahead with the rollout of 5G, which would "enable more than 90 million Americans to experience transformative speed," it also acknowledged that some crucial "operational" issues had yet to be resolved.
"The FAA and our nation's airlines have not been able to fully resolve 5G navigation around airports, even though it is secure and fully operational in more than 40 other countries," Verizon said Tuesday.
[An explosion tore off the cockpit but the plane continued to fly. All the passengers died. Sadness and doubts still remain]
AT&T said it had also agreed to "temporarily defer powering up a limited number of towers around certain airport runways."
However, the company stated: "We are frustrated by the FAA's inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it to do so promptly." timely manner."
In a statement posted on the FAA website on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the United States would continue to "lead the world in security" amid the 5G rollout on Wednesday.
"We recognize the economic importance of expanding 5G and appreciate wireless carriers working with us to protect the flying public and the nation's supply chain," he said.
[A chamber orchestra surprises passengers at this airport in Colombia]
"The complex US airspace leads the world in safety due to our high aviation standards, and we will uphold this commitment as wireless companies roll out 5G," he added.
The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News on Wednesday.