US airlines fly in different directions in middle-seat debate

Flying with empty middle seats means airlines will struggle to turn a profit, creating a dilemma for an industry desperate to revive itself while also reassuring passengers they are safe. US airlines saw some demand for travel return this summer, though it has stalled as new Covid-19 cases continue to rise in southern and western states. American Airlines told passengers to expect fully booked planes on July 1, including middle seats. The company had previously attempted to leave some seats empty for social distancing. Anthony Fauci, a leading member of the White House coronavirus task force, panned the decision. Oregon senator Jeff Merkley said he would introduce a bill to block the practice. Selling more seats would help airlines stem their losses, which ranged from $94m to $2.2b among major US carriers in Q1. Delta, the only US airline so far to report Q2 results, posted a $7b pre-tax loss. To break even on a flight, airlines need to sell about 75% of a plane’s seating capacity. That is 8 percentage points higher than an aeroplane where every third seat is empty. “If you leave the middle seat empty . . . you’re not going to make money,” said Kevin Michaels, MD of AeroDynamic Advisory. United is also allowing middle seats to be booked. Delta and Southwest airlines both plan to wait until autumn before they begin fully booking planes, while low-cost US carriers are split evenly between the two stances.<br/>