PAL to go on with flights to U.S., with 5G safety questions ‘resolved’

PAL said that the U.S. Department of Transportation assured airlines that aircraft landing in U.S. airports will not encounter interference from 5G radio waves. WEBSITE

Philippine Airlines (PAL), the Philippines’ flag carrier, said it expects its flights to the United States to go on as scheduled after US authorities said safety questions have been resolved over the effect of new 5G transmitters on aircraft instruments in the vicinity of certain US airports.

PAL said that the U.S. Department of Transportation assured airlines that aircraft landing in U.S. airports will not encounter interference from 5G radio waves, “now that telecommunications companies have agreed with the Biden administration to revise the deployment of the upgraded technology around key airports throughout the US.”

PAL said it was prepared to cancel certain U.S.-bound flights had there been any remaining concern over the 5G effect on flight safety.  “The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority,” said PAL senior vice president for operations Stanley Ng said in a statement.

PAL, nonetheless, said it will continue to monitor developments and make adjustments should there be changes that pose any impact on safety.

The flag carrier flies regularly to Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, and the continued safe operation of these flights will benefit thousands of travelers, including US-based Filipinos, who prefer to fly on its nonstop flights between Manila and the US mainland.

PAL said its flights to Honolulu and Guam, as well as routes to other overseas destinations in Asia, North America, Australia and the Middle East, are not affected by the 5G concerns that involved only specific airports in the US mainland.