Delta Air Lines Commits to Block Middle Seat into January 2021

Delta Air Lines on Thursday announced that its policy of blocking the middle seat will remain in place through at least Jan. 6, 2021.

Delta will continue to block the middle seat in Delta premium Select, Delta Comfort+, and its main cabin into next year, allowing groups of one or two to sit with no one in the adjacent, while giving bigger groups and families the option of selecting seats together.

“Medical experts, including our own partners at Emory Healthcare, agree—more distance on board makes a difference,” Delta’s Chief Customer Experience Officer Bill Lentsch said in a statement.

“We believe that taking care of our customers and employees and restoring confidence in the safety of air travel is more important right now than filling up every seat on a plane. We’ll continue taking a thoughtful, layered approach ensuring customers know to expect the highest standard of care as they prepare for their holiday travels.”

Delta is also committing to keeping its capacity onboard all of its flights limited through at least Oct. 31—the carrier will continue flying with half capacity in its first class cabins and to block one aisle of seats on aircrafts without middle seats.

Delta said that as planes begin to fill on more popular routes, it will look to upsize to a larger aircraft or add more flights in order to meet demand while keeping people socially distant.

Delta has also taken a hardline stance on its face mask enforcement—those who refuse to comply, Delta said, may be banned from flying with Delta.