EasyJet weighs up empty middle seats once coronavirus rules ease

EasyJet may keep middle seats empty to follow physical distancing rules once coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted, its CE has said. Johan Lundgren said vacant seats were one of the options being explored as the airline started planning for flights to resume, following the grounding of EasyJet’s entire fleet March 30. The CE said a drop in passenger demand would make it easier to keep the middle seats empty when restrictions were eased. However, the middle-seat option has been dismissed by the CE of its rival Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, who said it would be a “hopelessly ineffective” way to keep passengers safe and ultimately unaffordable for airlines. EasyJet said winter bookings were “well ahead” of last year after it released its flight schedule earlier than usual. <br/>