Laboratory modeling suggests distanced aircraft seating reduces SARS-CoV-2 exposure by 23% to 57%Does leaving airplane middle seats empty actually reduce COVID-19 exposure?

This was a laboratory modeling study that simulated SARS-CoV-2 exposure in single-aisle and twin-aisle aircraft cabins. The intervention was physically distanced seating where the middle seat was kept vacant, compared to a scenario of full aircraft occupancy. The primary outcome was COVID-19 exposure reduction, modeled using bacteriophage aerosol as a surrogate for respiratory particles.

The main result showed that keeping the middle seat vacant reduced estimated COVID-19 exposures by 23% to 57% compared to full occupancy. The exact absolute numbers, p-values, and confidence intervals were not reported. The study did not report on safety, tolerability, or adverse events, as it was not a human clinical trial.

Key limitations include that this was a laboratory scenario using bacteriophage aerosol, not a study of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission in real-world settings with human passengers. The population, sample size, and follow-up duration were not reported. Funding sources and conflicts of interest were also not disclosed.

Practice relevance is limited as this is an early-stage modeling study. The findings suggest a potential mechanism for exposure reduction but do not establish clinical efficacy in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further research involving human epidemiological data is needed to confirm these laboratory observations.