Aircraft seatmaps in the age of social distancing
If the coronavirus cloud has even a hint of silver lining, it would be a temporary end to middle seats...
By David Flynn, April 29 2020
Airlines around world have had their wings clipped by the coronavirus, and those which are still flying are embracing 'social distancing' in the air.
For an industry built around maximising the number of passengers on every flight, and business models where 'load factor' dominates the equation, it's a shock to the system.
Fortunately, for at least the time being, not nearly as many people are flying these days. Travel demand has plummeted to an all-time low. But those who do fly are seeing seatmaps in a whole new way.
By way of example, Japan Airlines has shared this revised coronavirus-shaped seatmaps for one of its domestic Boeing 737 jets.
Eight out of 20 seats in JAL's domestic 'Class J' business class cabin is blocked off. In economy, every middle seat of the 145-seat cabin has been marked as unavailable.
"In order to provide customers peace of mind, JAL is preparing to add a temporary restriction on seat assignments to allow more personal space inside the aircraft cabin," Japan Airlines states.
JAL also notes that "in addition, to assure ample space between each passenger, please note that our representatives at the airport may ask you to change seats prior to your flight."
Also read: Here's how coronavirus will change airlines and the way we fly
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
22 May 2011
Total posts 89
Interesting that in Europe, business class short hall basically is the middle seat blocked out. If everyone now gets the middle seat blocked out, what's the point of business class?
11 Mar 2012
Total posts 316
Slightly better food I guess.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 193
And more seat pitch compared to economy class.
QF
02 Nov 2012
Total posts 48
No difference in pitch, in BA they move the J / Y divider as demand requires!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Aug 2017
Total posts 83
I'm no scientist, so this is a genuine question I have that I'm hoping an expert who might be reading this can answer: Airlines have been saying that the HEPA filters on modern aeroplanes filter out well over 99% of airborne viruses. If this is correct, can it be inferred that social distancing isn't quite as important on aeroplanes as it is on the ground, as the HEPA filters accomplish most, if not all, of what social distancing accomplishes on the ground? As long as all the surfaces are thoroughly disinfected?
29 Apr 2020
Total posts 1
Social distancing is still relevant in the cabin - what you're trying to achieve is to physically seperate passengers apart in hope that it will minimise the chances of catching virus containing droplets from other passengers. Same kind of principles behind having unwell passengers putting a surgical face mask on, to catch on droplets. Not quite clear if SARS-CoV-2 is airborne at present.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 193
Whilst aircraft air conditioning filters are good, Its about the physical distance between people which is the major the virus spreads.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1209
It's hard for airlines to make money when selling every available seat still only equals a 65% load factor. Most airlines derive their cost models with assumed load factors of between 75% and 80% so I can't see how this is going to work in the medium term.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 381
Spot on, and it won't work unless those empty seats are paid for through the other occupied seats = increase fares to compensate.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 193
Yes, airfares will rise, as the airlines adjust their seat yields up, due to the reduce amount of seats available.
13 Feb 2015
Total posts 68
Which will then reduce demand presumably? If people are unsure/nervous about flying for a while, then raising prices won't be the right thing to do at all.
01 May 2020
Total posts 1
So, what happens if you are travelling in a group -- surely you could forgo the seat-distancing in some respects? ie: would take more seats on the plane
And, if so, how would that be priced?
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1245
Even with the middle seat blocked off you are still no more than 6in away from the person in front of (and behind) you.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 125
But you have the seat between you and the person infront/behind you. Although the person next to you is about 19” away.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1245
A seat is not an impermeable barrier to the droplets that would carry the disease. In any event, the separation space is still well below the 1.5m distance prescribed by government.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 Jan 2018
Total posts 2
Using this seating configuration as an example which class, business or economy, will end with highest fare rise to compensate for the lost seats?
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 3
How long will the airlines choose to ly with empty middle seats. How long will the airlines have to fly with empty middle seats? How long before the airlines take out the 50+ middle seats reducing the loading by between one quarter and one third - that if the Civid-19 problem comes back in a second or third wave may have to be implemented saving fuel and cleaning costs and making for quicker turn-arounds. The desigh=n of the seats may make removing the middle seat almost impossible in cattle class.
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 3
How long will the airlines choose to ly with empty middle seats. How long will the airlines have to fly with empty middle seats? How long before the airlines take out the 50+ middle seats reducing the loading by between one quarter and one third - that if the Covid-19 problem comes back in a second or third wave may have to be implemented saving fuel and cleaning costs and making for quicker turn-arounds. The design of the seats may make removing the middle seat almost impossible in cattle class but no doubt fuel costs will be the determining factor in making the decision.
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