5G Cancels Alaska Airlines Flights

Alaska Airlines issued warnings of delays or cancelations to dozens of flights to and from Everett’s Paine Field. The warnings came on Monday and Tuesday due to fog and new restrictions connected to the 5G wireless service. Airline representatives warned that the new 5G signals could interfere with flight technology used to navigate aircraft. This is especially true in challenging weather and low-visibility situations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued flight restrictions that limit what aircraft can land in particular weather due to the potential impacts of 5G.

5G Controversy

While AT&T and Verizon are broadening the project to put 5G in airports across the country, aviation companies pushed back. They made claims and pleaded that the implementation could be dangerous to travelers. The fear is 5G will interfere with the instrumentation needed to make landings in bad weather. 

Even as little as fog can cause problems. This makes the project feel like one step forward and two steps back for the aviation industry. This week, Paine Field became the first casualty of this program as their travel advisories announced the cancelation of dozens of flights. 

Paine Field is ‘just as frustrated’ with Alaska’s 5G Cancelations

Paine Field took to Twitter to ensure customers knew they weren’t to blame in a brief statement Monday night:

“Unfortunately, our hometown carrier has had to cancel flights due to 5G and weather. Please check your flight status with @AlaskaAir before heading out to Paine Field this week. This is out of our control, and we are as frustrated as you are.

“Be assured that we are working with appropriate authorities on local and federal levels, along with our partners at Snohomish County, to assist in bringing this situation to a resolution as soon as possible.”

If the holidays, weather, and COVID weren’t enough, the last thing airlines need is another hurdle. Time will tell if this implementation causes more problems than it fixes.