A study just released by the CDC shows that empty middle seats would significantly reduce the risk of getting COVID. The research used modeling to evaluate how the virus is spread through airplane cabins. It showed that passengers on flights with middle seats empty had a reduced exposure level of up to 57% percent, compared with a full flight.
The study says, “Physical distancing of airplane passengers, including through policies such as middle seat vacancy, could provide additional reductions in risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on aircraft.”
One obvious failure of the study was that the model didn’t look into the impact of mask-wearing, which is, of course, required on planes. The reason for that is that the study was conducted in 2017, before today’s actual situation.
Airplanes are still widely considered to present a low-risk environment for spreading COVID due to air filtration and ventilation.
Airlines reject the study.
American, Delta, Southwest, and United, among other airlines, have already indicated their rejection of the new CDC study via their trade organization Airlines for America. Airlines point to studies that have shown low COVID transmission rates on flights. IATA has said that they are only aware of 44 COVID cases that may have been linked to flights since last year.
What happened to empty middle seats on Hawaii flights?
Flights to Hawaii had middle seats left vacant during much of the COVID pandemic. That has swiftly come to an end with Delta being the last holdout. They will no longer block middle seats starting May 1.
Hawaii flights had limited capacity and empty middle seats through most of 2020. Alaska, however, stopped blocking seats in January, Hawaiian stopped in December, as did Southwest, for example.
The airline industry has referred to a Harvard study which said that a “Layered approach of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPI) instituted on commercial aircraft – effectively diluting and removing pathogens and in combination with face masks -results in a very low risk of SARS-COV-2 disease transmission on aircraft.”
What are your thoughts on Hawaii flights that no longer have middle seats blocked?
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Y’all do realize that with a 3rd of the seats empty an airline cannot remain sustainable? Oh wait I forgot, everyone thinks they can run an airline. Sit in your seat, watch your ipads and let the actual professionals (the two pilots up front) do their jobs.
If only the government gave money to the airlines to help subsidize losses… oh… wait…. they did.
Grant money for payroll and loans for the rest. Which much of must be payed back so not every airline took al the money.
Do you have any idea what payroll runs for even a small airline like Hawaiian? And the gov’t doesn’t subsidize the airlines. Middle East airlines are subsidized, hence you get the far superior amenities than with US carriers.
The airlines were given money because without it every single US carrier would have been bankrupt long ago, and not because of poor business plans. For those of us here in Hawaii, you all may not realize how much mail and cargo actually comes via US airlines. Without airline service you would enjoy even higher costs for goods.
But I’m sure all the business savants here know this already.
No mention of Hawaiian Airlines and the middle seat controversy. However I had to fly to Burbank from Sacramento 2 weeks ago and took South West. They had us packed like sardines and they didn’t want passengers talking to the flight attendants period. Not a great experience.
So, are the Airlines going to back off on Cleaning the Planes as well?
CDC-Can’t Determine Crap! They are losing control as more and more people are vaccinated and are starting to seriously question WHY!? First it was wear the masks and distancing to “smooth the curve” until it wasn’t. Then the rush to get vaccinated but STILL wear a mask and then a couple of weeks ago the Faucmeister telling Congress about a variant with NO symptoms, not detectable by any test, and if you have it you will feel perfectly healthy! How much more do you really need to hear to know that we have been played. And exactly where on ANY aircraft is there social distancing. Complete BS with a convenient use of a 2017 study, the same year he predicted that the Trump administration” might” experience a pandemic by 2020! What an interesting prediction to make.
exactly.. this 100%
There is a reason a recent poll found that a majority of CNN watchers think the chances of hospitalizations from covid is 50%.. When in actuality it is 1-5%…
Distancing, and mask no doubt help reduce exposure. I just get bummed out when those posting comments just seem to be an authority on everything and cant keep the politics out of it even when being asked.
They are the problem.
Besides Hawaii is the best and we should be thankful we have a way to get there by just following some simple rules. Go Hawaii!
2500 miles away from anything and 4 counties separated by water may have helped. But yeah everyone has a mask on at the beaches for sure.
How about rapid testing at airports, problem solved. No one gets on a tube with others with covid AND they’re not bringing it with – regardless of Hawaii or anywhere else.
What a concept!
Mahalo
The airlines are right. They are smarter and have more at risk and more to gain then CDC and WHO (both of which have credibility below congress).
We have been lied to from the beginning! Be informed! Read what America’s Front Line Doctors, Free Pressers and Health Impact News says about the lies and inconsistent mandates!Censorship and Big Pharma plus the media and Globalists are responsible‼️
The only way we can get back to normal is BE INFORMED ‼️
🤦🏻♀️
or just stay uninformed