Study suggests airline passenger spacing will slow COVID-19 spreadKeeping middle seats vacant on air flights has the potential to cut transmission of virus particles by 57% when multiple passengers are infected and by 23% when a single passenger is infected, according to an aerosol dispersion study that included earlier data that modeled plane airflow.Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Kansas State University reported the findings today in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) study.During the pandemic, a number of airlines blocked off the middle seats to assist with social distancing during flights, alongside mandatory masking.