Middle seat free - necessary or uneconomical

Social distancing must be practiced everywhere els ein corona times, why not on airlines. No business think physical distancing is good for profit but most have to accept it asa necessity in a hopefully temporary new reality. Airline management though seem to find the whole concept difficult. Some of them are so used just for profit to stuff their customers in to the absolute legal limit and without comforts that they don't. Safety is just because accidents are bad for business. In a differnt time they would be landlords sending their tenants on coffinships to America so they could utilize the vacated land better.
Problem with that way of thinking arise when low-low prices are no longer the be all and end all for if people want to fly or not. In dangerous times people become price unelastic and will pay what it costs if they absolutely have to fly. And if not necessary they won't no matter how cheap it is. This concept seeems to escape many of todays airline chiefs. Even though the concept is well proven; charge more money for more space.
There is also the additional matter that distancing might entice some of these nervous customers aboard if they can be assured that the airline takes these things seriously. That means keeping middle seats free, enforcing mask usage, also for the ignorant ones, and regular cleaning. Like cleaning between each flight and not boisterous but unbelievable boosts about that their once a night clean lasts for 36 hours.