US: Though far from the norm, nearly 500 flights per day depart more than 70% full

Some passengers will arrive at the airport and find their flight is too full to allow for the neighboring seat to remain empty, according to data from a US airline industry group. The group maintains, however, that the vast majority of flights continue to allow for many open seats, even as the average number of passengers on each plane is growing. According to the group Airlines for America, 8.5% of flights are more than 70% full. That means about 482 daily flights are above the 70% mark. The group says US carriers are currently conducting about 5,670 passenger flights daily -- even after slashing thousands of flights from their schedules. The 70% mark is significant because on a narrow body aircraft where most seats are in groups of 3, social distancing typically means using only two thirds of seats, or 67%. When factoring in other types of aircraft and different seating arrangements, the IATA says social distancing would mean using a maximum of 62% of seats fleet-wide. There is no federal standard requiring airlines to leave empty seats and allow customers to socially distance, and the DoT recently instructed airlines that "if the passenger wishes to change or cancel due to concerns related to the Covid-19 public health emergency," the customer is not entitled to a refund or voucher.<br/>