Westjet, Air Canada to resume sales of middle seats

Air Canada and Westjet will end physical distancing on flights starting on July 1.

Both carriers said Friday they will stop blocking the booking of the middle seat in a row.

A Westjet notice said it will instead adopt the guidance of the International Air Transport Association “for global aviation health and safety and implementing its recommendations with respect to seat distancing.”

Air Canada has announced a similar plan.

“As a global airline in a global sector, we are committed to ensuring our protocols are consistent with the best practices and advice available to us from around the world,” Westjet spokesperson Morgan Bell said in an email.

The transport association supports the removal of seat distancing if HEPA filters are installed to clean recirculated air, Westjet wrote in the notice on its website.