Emirates suspends flights to 9 US destinations

Other airlines also cancelling or rearranging US flights after a 5G wireless rollout triggered safety concerns

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that potential 5G interference could affect height readings that play a key role in bad-weather landings on some jets, including the Boeing 777.

Dubai-based Emirates, the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777, said it would suspend flights to nine US destinations from today (19 January 2021), the planned launch date of 5G wireless services.

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Not all 777s are affected. Emirates flights to New York’s JFK and Los Angeles will continue to operate, but switch to the A380. Boeing 777 flights to Washington will go ahead as scheduled.

According to data from FlightRadar24, the 777 was the second-most used wide-body plane on flights to and from US airports last year with around 210,000 flights, behind only the 767. 

Boeing is yet to release a statement at this time.