American Airlines is ending its social distancing practice. So your flight might be really full soon

American Airlines will soon end its social distancing policy, which blocked kept middle seats empty in the economy section, USA Today reports.

What’s going on?

• American Airlines will end its practice of blocking off middle seats on July 1.
• The airline said in a statement to USA Today:

“As more people continue to travel, customers may notice that flights are booked to capacity starting July 1. American will continue to notify customers and allow them to move to more open flights when available, all without incurring any cost.’’

• United and Spirit airlines already booked flights to capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic, ending any practices of social distancing.
• United CEO Scott Kirby said social distancing doesn’t exist on airplanes, according to USA Today.
• Southwest, Delta and JetBlue are still blocking middle seats or stopping all seats from getting sold. Southwest plans to continue the practice through September, USA Today reports.

But American Airlines has a plan ...

• The American Airlines pilots union wants the federal government to buy some middle seats on all planes to keep people safe from COVID-19, as I reported for the Deseret News.
• The Allied Pilots Association has promoted the Safe Essential Air Transportation Seating (SEATS) program, which would come as a second round of stimulus aid for airports from the U.S. government. The aid would include buying all middle seats, which would inject cash into the airline industry and keep people from sitting next to strangers.