FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Will airlines be forced to remove rows and middle seats in the future?
Old Apr 14, 2020 | 4:28 pm
  #39  
MiamiAirport Formerly NY George
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Possibly there's going to be some sort of social distancing for a time being. Whether this is needed or hype I'll let others debate. Airlines may need to limit load factors possibly being forced to block middle seats, at least for some interim period. In the US since most airlines are going to take the bailout they will be at the mercy of the government and what it requires.

I'm sure the airlines want to cut capacity because they've already seem convinced demand will not rebound to pre 2020 levels, raise fares and still get a butt in every seat. How is the question. Business flyers have gotten addicted to frequency in the US while airlines have got addicted to filling all those empty coach seats with BE type flyers. If leisure travel doesn't come back due to an unemployment rate over 20% there's going to be lots of empty seats chasing too few paxs. Parking lots of new a/c with debt and lease payments isn't going to work. We could see another round of Chapter 11 to cancel a/c leases, return a/c to lenders, void union contracts and walk away from lots of vendor invoices due.
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