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:

Full activation of 5G C-Band wireless service poses a risk of air travel delays due to potential interference with aircraft radio altimeters, particularly affecting landings in low-visibility conditions.
The FAA has mandated that airlines equip aircraft with 5G-tolerant altimeters or filters by February 2024, with operational restrictions on non-compliant planes going into effect from July 1st.
While many major airlines like American and United expect to have their mainline fleets fully retrofitted by the July 1st deadline, some carriers such as Delta will face operational restrictions on un-retrofitted aircraft in inclement weather.
Despite the FCC's assertion that 5G will not interfere with aviation, the FAA maintains a cautious approach, noting differences in U.S. 5G deployment compared to other countries.

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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.