EasyJet’s social distancing

EASYJET expects to keep its middle seats empty when it resumes flying to enable social distancing.

Chief executive Johan Lundgren said the measure is aimed at encouraging passengers to fly after the coronavirus pandemic recedes.

He told reporters: “I expect that to happen. That is something that we will do because I think that is something that the customers would like to see.

“Then we will work out with the authorities and listen to the customers’ views and points on what they believe is the right thing to do, particularly in the start-up period.”

The majority of easyJet aircraft are configured with mainly three seats in a row, either side of the aisle. The change would involve passengers in window and aisle seats having an empty seat next to them.

Mr Lundgren said it will be possible to keep middle seats empty as “our assumption is that load factors will not get back to normal early on”.

He went on: “I’m talking about this as an initial phase. Nobody knows for how long that phase will be. We’re also looking at various disinfection programmes on the aircraft, we’re in discussions with Easa (the European aviation safety regulator) if there are other additional measures we should take.

“I think it’s important that customers understand that we are taking this very seriously and first and foremost our concern is about the customers’ well-being and our people’s well-being.

“That is what’s going to take priority in this whole thing, because that is the way you get the confidence back with people taking flights again.”

EasyJet yesterday said it is set to report underlying pre-tax losses of between £185m and £205m for the six months to March 31, against losses of £275m a year earlier.

The group’s planes were fully grounded on March 30.