The measure could minimize the risk of infection in airplanes, but so far hardly any airline has offered it. Now Eurowings wants to keep the middle seat free in rows of three - for a surcharge.
Cologne / Frankfurt (dpa) - The Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings is now offering a free middle seat for payment in the corona crisis.
From 18 euros each way, passengers can ensure that the middle seat next to them remains free during the entire flight in the typical rows of three. Eurowings boss Jens Bischof announced on Tuesday that the service will be bookable online on all routes from September. So far, customers still have to contact the service center. Around 5000 guests have already used the opportunity.
The free middle seat was discussed as a measure to ensure more distance between the passengers in Corona times. The airlines with the Eurowings parent Lufthansa at the top had rejected such a requirement as too expensive and unnecessary. The arguments are that the air is quickly circulated in aircraft cabins and also cleaned with high-performance filters.
Eurowings had already included the vacant middle seat in the highest booking class before Corona. At the Condor holiday airline, it is possible to reserve a free middle seat at check-in for 39.90 euros.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 200818-99-212561 / 3
