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Southwest will keep middle seats open through November

Southwest Airlines will hold back tickets to allow middle seats to stay open through the end of November and is in the process of trimming its November flight schedule.

Dallas-based Southwest has extended its policy limiting tickets sold on planes to allow middle seats to remain open and give more room for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said in an investor update Wednesday. Southwest previously promised to limit ticket sales on jets through the end of October, and it’s extending the policy as the airline industry continues to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move could give customers some peace of mind heading into the Thanksgiving travel period, a time of year when seasonal cases of flu and colds usually increase anyway.

Delta Air Lines plans to keep middle seats open through the end of January, while United and Fort Worth-based American Airlines have stopped limiting seat sales.

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