The global aviation body said Tuesday that the risk of catching COVID-19 on a plane was low and there was no need to leave the middle seat empty once the industry takes off again. The International Air Transport Association backed the wearing of masks by both passengers and crew but said it did not support physical distancing measures that would leave the middle seat empty in a row of three. There would be “dramatic cost increases” if such seats were left empty, IATA said in a statement, warning that airlines might otherwise go bust if they struggled to break even.
