Airlines Face 5G Compliance Deadline on July 1

Transportation officials warn of possible travel disruptions next week due to a lack of equipment to prevent interference.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 03:46 PM ET

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Since 2020, airline industry officials have voiced concerns that interference caused by 5G signals could possibly compromise radio altimeters aboard airliners, which can constitute a safety hazard in low-visibility situations. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The full activation of 5G C-Band wireless service poses a risk of interference with aircraft radio altimeters, which are critical for safe landings in low-visibility conditions, potentially causing travel delays.
The FAA has mandated aircraft retrofits with 5G-tolerant equipment by February 2024, but operational restrictions for non-compliant planes are already in effect for certain situations.
While many major airlines have completed necessary upgrades for their mainline fleets, others will implement operational restrictions in inclement weather for un-retrofitted aircraft to ensure safety.

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The looming deadline of the full activation of 5G C-Band wireless service on Saturday could potentially lead to travel delays next week, transportation officials warned, as some air carriers may not have installed equipment needed to prevent interference.