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American Airlines Group Inc. said it would sell flights to capacity starting July 1, abandoning caps on passenger loads that were designed to promote social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Customers will still be notified when they’re booked on crowded flights and can move their reservations at no cost, the airline said in a statement Friday. In addition, as of June 30, American will ask customers to certify that they have been free of Covid-19 symptoms for the previous 14 days.
American is ditching its restrictions on filling aircraft cabins just as the pandemic worsens in parts of the U.S. that had largely been spared earlier this year. Those areas include states where the carrier has major operations, such as Texas, Arizona and North Carolina.
United Airlines Holdings Inc. hasn’t guaranteed to block seats. By contrast, Delta Air Lines Inc. has said it will keep middle seats open through Sept. 30. Southwest Airlines Co. has committed to block middle seats unless customers are traveling together.
American fell 2.2% to $12.88 at 9:49 a.m. in New York amid broad market declines.
