Aviation
Anxiety mounts among international airlines as US deploys 5G network
Major international airlines have cancelled flights heading to the United States or changed the planes they’re using Wednesday, the latest complication in a dispute over concerns that 5G mobile phone service could interfere with aircraft technology.
Some airlines said they were warned that the Boeing 777, a plane used by carriers worldwide, was particularly affected by the new high-speed wireless service.
The aircraft is the workhorse for the Dubai-based Emirates, a key carrier for East-West travel, and its flight schedule took one of the biggest hits.
It was not clear how disruptive the cancellations would be. Several airlines said they would try to merely use different planes to maintain their service.
The cancellations and changes came a day after mobile phone carriers AT&T and Verizon said they would postpone new wireless service near some US airports planned for this week.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared a number of aircraft to fly into airports with 5G signals, but the Boeing 777 is not on the list.
Similar mobile networks have been deployed in dozens of other countries — sometimes with concessions such as reducing the power of the networks near airports, as France has done.
But in the US, the issue has pitted the FAA and the airlines against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and telecommunications companies.
The 5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by radio altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground and help pilots land in low visibility.
The FCC, which set a buffer between the 5G band and the spectrum that planes use, determined that it could be used safely in the vicinity of air traffic.
AT&T and Verizon have said their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics.
But FAA officials saw a potential problem, and the telecom companies agreed to a pause while it is addressed.
On Wednesday, Emirates announced it would halt flights to several US cities due to “operational concerns associated with the planned deployment of 5G mobile network services in the U.S. at certain airports”.
It said it would continue flights to Los Angeles, New York and Washington.
“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,” the state-owned airline said.
Of particular concern appears to be the Boeing 777. Emirates only flies that model and the Airbus A380 jumbo jet.
Japan’s All Nippon Airways said that the FAA “has indicated that radio waves from the 5G wireless service may interfere with aircraft altimeters”.
“Boeing has announced flight restrictions on all airlines operating the Boeing 777 aircraft, and we have cancelled or changed the aircraft for some flights to/from the US-based on the announcement by Boeing,” ANA said.
It cancelled 20 flights over the issue to cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
Japan Airlines similarly said that it had been informed that 5G signals “may interfere with the radio altimeter installed on the Boeing 777”.
It said it will stop using the model in the continental US for now.
Eight of its flights were affected Wednesday — three passenger trips and five for cargo.
Taiwan’s EVA Air also said the FAA specifically said 777s may be affected, but it did not spell out how it would adjust its schedule.
But Air France said it planned to continue flying its Boeing 777s into American airports. It did not explain why it didn’t change its aircraft as many other carriers have.
Chicago-based Boeing Co did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Air India also announced on Twitter that it would cancel flights to Chicago, Newark, New York and San Francisco because of the 5G issue.
But it also said it would try to use other aircraft on US routes — a course several other airlines took.
Korean Air, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific and Austrian Airlines said they substituted different planes for flights that were scheduled to use 777s.
Korean Air spokeswoman Jill Chung said the airline was also avoiding operating some kinds of 747s at affected airports.
Germany’s Lufthansa also swapped out one kind of 747 for another on some US-bound flights.
British Airways cancelled several planned US-bound Boeing 777 flights and changed aircraft on others.
The FAA has said it will allow planes with accurate, reliable altimeters to operate around high-power 5G.
But planes with older altimeters will not be allowed to make landings under low-visibility conditions.
Contributing to the problem, according to the FAA, are the signal strength of the 5G towers and the orientation of their antennae.
“Base stations in rural areas of the United States are permitted to emit at higher levels in comparison to other countries which may affect radio altimeter equipment accuracy and reliability,” the FAA said in December.
FCC Chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement that the 5G “deployment can safely co-exist with aviation technologies in the United States, just as it does in other countries around the world.”
However, Rosenworcel urged the FAA to conduct its safety checks with “both care and speed”.
AT&T and Verizon spent tens of billions of dollars for the 5G spectrum known as C-Band in a government auction last year.
Choi Jong-Yun, a spokeswoman for Asiana Airlines, said the company hasn’t been affected so far because it uses Airbus planes for passenger flights to the US.
However, Choi raised a new wrinkle, saying airlines have also been instructed by the FAA to avoid automatic landings at affected US airports during bad weather conditions, regardless of plane type.
Asiana will redirect its planes to nearby airports during those conditions, she said.
Aviation
Tension de-escalates at Lagos Airport as FAAN, Cargo agents reach truce over new tariff
Aviation
Why we increased cargo tariff at Airports– FAAN
FAAN stated it’s own side of the story thus
Why we increase the tariff?
FAAN has increased tariffs after careful consideration of current economic realities.
Our tariffs have remained static since 2008. Over the past 18 years, Nigeria has experienced significant inflation (approximately 287%) and a drastic depreciation of the Naira.
This adjustment is essential to sustain and upgrade critical airport infrastructure, which has become financially unsustainable under the old rates.
The tariff is increasing from ₦7 to ₦20. Isn’t this a huge jump?
While the percentage increase appears large, it is important to view it in the context of time and inflation.
Based on data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), a service that cost ₦7 in 2008 should cost about ₦27.09 today just to have the same value.
The new tariff of ₦20 is actually below this inflation-adjusted benchmark. This demonstrates FAAN’s commitment to sharing the burden and not passing the full cost onto operators.
How does the foreign exchange (FX) rate affect airport charges?
A significant portion of the equipment and materials needed for airport infrastructure—such as runway asphalt, aerodrome lighting, and fire truck parts—are imported.
In 2008, the exchange rate was about ₦118/$1. Today, it is about ₦1,500/$1.
This means the cost of these essential items has increased by over 1,000%. The tariff review is crucial to generate the necessary revenue in Naira to meet these dollar-denominated costs.
How does Nigeria’s new cargo tariff compare to other countries in West Africa?
Our analysis shows that even with this adjustment, Nigeria’s cargo charges will remain competitive. Prior to this review, our charges were lower than those at major regional hubs like Kotoka International Airport (Ghana) and Cotonou Airport (Benin).
This move aligns us closer to regional standards while ensuring we remain an attractive destination for air cargo operators and investors.
Is this not a form of double taxation on top of what the concessionaires charge?
No, this is not double taxation. There is a clear distinction between the two charges:”FAAN Port Charge: This covers the use of shared airport infrastructure that everyone benefits from, such as runways, taxiways, perimeter fencing, security, access roads, and airfield lighting.
It is like a toll for using the airport’s common facilities.Concessionaire’s Handling Fee: This fee is charged by the private warehouse operators for specific services they provide within their terminals, such as cargo handling, storage, and documentation.Will this tariff increase lead to higher prices for goods and services for the average consumer?FAAN expects the impact on consumer prices to be minimal. The Port Charge is a very small component of the total cost of air freight.
The significant benefits of improved infrastructure—such as faster turnaround times and reduced delays—will ultimately lead to greater efficiency and could help stabilize or even lower logistics costs in the long run.
What specific projects will the revenue from this tariff increase be used for?
The additional revenue will be reinvested directly into critical cargo infrastructure projects, including:”Rehabilitation of aprons and access roads to cargo terminals.
Enhanced perimeter security and access control systems.Implementation of a Cargo Community System (CCS) for digital documentation.Installation of a Truck Call-Up System to reduce congestion at the Premier Cargo Terminal (PCT).Upgrades to airfield lighting and other essential facilities.Development of domestic cargo infrastructure.Was there any consultation with stakeholders before this decision was made?“Yes. FAAN is committed to transparent stakeholder engagement. Formal communication has been sent to all cargo operators and industry players.
Furthermore, stakeholder consultations are ongoing and will continue as a permanent exercise.
This ensures that all relevant parties are informed about cargo initiatives and can provide feedback.
What is the long-term goal of this tariff adjustment?
This is not merely a revenue-generation measure. It is a strategic investment in the future of Nigeria’s air cargo sector.
The goal is to build a resilient, efficient, and future-ready cargo ecosystem that is globally competitive, enhances security, and supports economic growth”
Aviation
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