The activation of the 5G internet service (fifth generation of mobile networks) this Wednesday by the mobile phone companies AT&T and Verizon could leave tens of thousands of passengers stranded, warned the main United States airlines.
At least three airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines, indicated in a statement on Monday that the launch of internet bandwidth could cause chaos in airport services due to the effects on wide-body aircraft.
“This means that on a day like yesterday (Sunday), more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subject to cancellations, diversions or delays”, airlines anticipated.
“Unless our main hubs operations are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and boating public will be essentially stranded s on the ground”, the airlines added.
Activation of the 5G network would affect aircraft
The application of the 5G network could affect the aircraft altimeters and considerably hinder low visibility operations, confirmed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The aforementioned airlines and others asked the Administration of President Joe Biden to intervene immediately to delay the launch.
The aforementioned airlines and other airlines asked Biden and his team, through a letter in the power of media such as Reuters and CNN, stop the activation near the airports where flight restrictions apply by the FAA once the technology goes into effect.
“The ripple effects both for passenger and cargo operations, our staff and the economy in general are simply incalculable,” the airline executives wrote. “To be frank, the nation’s trade will stop,” they said.
The document also indicates that the talks between the airlines and the mobile phone companies continue. between the airlines and the telecommunications industry are ongoing. Telecommunications companies had delayed the launch until this month, and subsequently agreed to a limited delay to some airports that expires tomorrow.
Companies such as USP Airlines and FedEx Express would also be affected
The change would affect key transportation companies such as USP Airlines and FedEx Express, for example.
At the moment, Verizon and AT&T have not reacted to the new request.
Apart from the White House, the letter was addressed to the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission and the FAA.
The FAA indicated, for its part, that it will continue to ensure that public transport is safe while companies deploy the 5G network.
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