Southwest Airlines will start filling all seats starting December 1st, also, they will no longer be leaving the middle seat open.
The company stated on Thursday that, “Today, aligned with science-based findings from trusted medical and aviation organizations, we will resume selling all available seats for travel beginning December 1, 2020,” CEO and Chairman of the Board Gary Kelly said in an earnings press release.
Passengers can still opt to fly a less crowded flight if they have a problem with it. This comes after the airline publicized its $1.2 billion loss in the third quarter.
Southwest Airlines stopped their modified sanitization policy earlier this year. Then, the airline modified its policy on Aug 1 to focus only on bathrooms and tray tables, and not including seat belts and armrests. However, those areas will now undergo a deep cleaning for six-seven hours, at night.
This comes as the company tries to prioritize high-touch areas and minimize turnaround time.
“These are the most important areas to clean between each flight as they are prone to contamination from Customer use and food/beverage consumption,” a memo shared with USA Today.
The company also told Fox News there was a “multi-layered approach to cleaning,” which includes using a broad-spectrum disinfectant to clean lavatories and tray tables at every seat between each flight.”
Previously, American Airlines stopped social distancing this past summer.
Ross Feinstein, an American Airlines spokesman addressed the new flight measures this way:
“That was before we had extensive cleaning initiatives, face mask requirements and an extension of waivers for customers. That’s the reasoning we ultimately feel it’s safe and prudent to lift these restrictions as of July 1.”
American Airlines Chief Executive Doug Parker also explained that long-term social distancing on planes is not exactly logical:
“Social distancing is not something we can provide very well as an airline. No airline can. You can say you’re not going to sell the middle seat, but you’re not six feet away from the person at the window or on the aisle, certainly not six feet away from the person ahead of you or behind you.”
Passengers will not be booked in middle seats through Thanksgiving.
