JETBLUE IS THE LATEST AIRLINE TO RETREAT FROM BLOCKING SEATS

The days of airlines blocking seats to make passengers feel safer about flying during the pandemic are coming closer to an end.

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JetBlue is the latest to indicate it is rethinking the issue. A spokesman for the carrier said that JetBlue will reduce the number of seats it blocks after Dec. 1 to accommodate families traveling together over the holidays.

Southwest Airlines said last week that it will stop limiting the number of seats it fills after Dec. 1. Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines say they will lift caps on seating early next year.

The pandemic and resulting border restrictions caused U.S. air travel to plunge 95% in April. Some airlines promised to block middle seats to create more distance between passengers. Others, notably United Airlines and American Airlines, did not, arguing that ventilation systems and air filters made planes safe without social distancing.