American CEO Says 5G Flight Disruptions a Thing of the Past
Photo Credit: American CEO Doug Parker says the disruptions from the 5G wireless rollout in the U.S. are in the rear-view mirror. Flickr / Glenn Beltz
Skift Take
In his final quarterly earnings call as CEO of American Airlines, Doug Parker bid adieu after 107 consecutive results presentations since 1995. And he leaves American in solid shape with the airline having maintained its market-leading position in the U.S. and profitability expected to return later this year.
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker is confident that the worst of the disruptions related to the botched rollout of 5G wireless technology in the U.S. are past. But this comes only after several global airlines cancelled select flights to the U.S. and two days after telecom companies voluntarily delayed switching on the technology near certain airports.
“It wasn’t our finest hour as a country to get us to that point,” Parker said during American’s fourth quarter results call on Thursday. Government agencies, planemakers, and the telecom companies are now talking and sharing info, which will allow the safe full rollout of 5G technology, which allows for faster wireless speeds, he added.
American cancelled more than eight flights and delayed others as a result of the 5G rollout, according to a memo from operations chief David Seymour on Wednesday. The airline is awaiting U.S. Federal Aviation Administration authorization to operate certain Airbus aircraft a
