Qantas Says Fares Could Jump Ninefold With Social Distancing

Airlines Start Making More Room to Keep Passengers Apart
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Qantas Airways Ltd. said putting extra space between passengers on planes could lead to a big increase in airfares and discourage people from flying.

“Social distancing on an aircraft isn’t practical,” Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said in a briefing with reporters Tuesday. If implemented, it could mean there would only be 22 people on a 128-seat aircraft, Joyce said. “That means airfares are going to be eight to nine times more than they are today.”