United, DeltaThe company is changing its booking policy in an industry with no consensus on how crowded flights should be.United Airlines Holdings Inc.
hasn’t guaranteed to block seats. But Delta Air Lines Inc. has said it would keep middle seats open through Sept. 30. Southwest Airlines Co.
has committed to block middle seats unless customers are traveling together.Days before American announced its policy change, Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker expressed doubt about any airline’s ability to allow ample space among passengers on jetliners.“Social distancing is not something we can provide very well as an airline," Parker said in a recording of a June 24 question-and-answer session with pilots. “No airline can.