BA cancels US f lights over 5G safety fears

BRITISH Airways has cancelled a string of US flights due to 5G safety concerns.

The airline scrapped services from Heathrow to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco yesterday in response to fears that the activation of the new network near US airports could disrupt planes’ navigation systems.

Boeing 777s are thought to be particularly at risk of being affected. The introduction of the technology has been halted in some parts of the US but is going ahead elsewhere.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it had ‘issued safety advice’ to airlines.

BA said: ‘Safety is always our priority and although we had to cancel a handful of services, we’ve done everything we can to minimise inconvenience for our customers. We’ve changed the aircraft operating some of our flights and rebooked those on cancelled services on to alternatives. We’re disappointed that, like other airlines, some of our customers’ travel plans have been disrupted.’

Customers whose flights have been cancelled are being offered a full refund or the option to rebook.

Some services due to use Boeing 777s will switch to different, larger aircraft such as the Airbus A380 to ensure travellers can still fly on the same day. Other airlines have made many more cancellations. Emirates suspended all its flights to nine US airports yesterday ‘until further notice’.

The Dubai-based carrier told customers the measure was ‘due to operational concerns associated with the planned deployment of 5G mobile network services in the US at certain airports’.

It added: ‘Emirates regrets any inconvenience caused.

‘We are working closely with aircraft manufacturers and the relevant authorities to alleviate operational concerns, and we hope to resume our US services as soon as possible.’ Other airlines to cancel flights include Air India, Japan-based ANA, Japan Airlines and Korean Air.

The concern over 5G in the US relates to its potential effect on aircraft altimeters, which measure altitude.

This does not have an impact on UK airports because the US uses a different frequency for 5G.

A CAA spokesman said: ‘There have been no reported incidents of aircraft systems being affected by 5G transmissions in UK airspace.

‘We are working with Ofcom and the Ministry of Defence to make sure that the deployment of 5G in the UK does not cause any technical problems for aircraft and are keeping our position under constant review.

‘Also, as UK aircraft fly throughout the world we have issued safety advice to airlines on the 5G status in other countries, including the USA.’