Major Airlines to Likely Reject CDC’s<br />Middle-Seat Blocking Guidance.<br />On April 14, the CDC released a study that reignited the controversy surrounding middle-seat blocking on airplanes.<br />The study found that keeping middle seats<br />vacant reduced exposure to “viable” <br />COVID-19 particles by up to 57 percent. .<br />Physical distancing of airplane<br />passengers, including through policies such<br />as middle seat vacancy, could provide<br />additional reductions in risk for exposure<br />to SARS-CoV-2 on aircraft, CDC, via statement.<br />In the United States, Delta Air Lines is the<br />only carrier still blocking economy middle seats,<br />although they are set to stop doing so on May 1. .<br />Other major airlines, including American Airlines,<br />United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest<br />Airlines no longer practice seat blocking. .<br />When asked why, they deferred to<br />Airlines for America, a trade association that<br />represents major airlines in North America.<br />In a statement to 'Insider,' Airlines for America stressed<br />that aircrafts had a “very low” risk of exposure, essentially reaffirming their belief that seat blocking is unnecessary. .<br />Multiple scientific studies confirm that<br />the layers of protection significantly<br />reduce risk, and research continues to<br />demonstrate that the risk of transmission<br />onboard aircraft is very low, Airlines for America, to 'Insider'