Major airlines shrugged off 5G fiasco, but small regional carriers still face turbulence

“About 53% of the regional fleet” is facing restrictions. | Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

In the lead-up to AT&T and Verizon’s rollout of their upgraded 5G C-band equipment, it seemed like the sky was falling.

For years, the Federal Aviation Administration and airline organizations had voiced concerns that the upgraded cellular tech could interfere with vital safety equipment on planes, while the FCC and carriers insisted it was safe, pointing to similar rollouts in dozens of other countries. Even after several delays, there were still last-minute deals being made between carriers and regulators, with airlines banding together to warn that the activation could cause a “catastrophic disruption” to air travel and shipping. Several international airlines canceled flights to certain US airports.

But just a few days after the...

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