Airlines in a Crisis

Problem exists because airlines in their wisdom decided that in cattle class every seat should not have its own 2 armrests. There is little help in cleaning the bathroom frequently if the person in the seat beside you leave the virus on the armrest you both share. This could have been prevented if a 3+3 aircraft was 25cm/10inches wider so one could fit 4 more independent armrests. This would give space for extra 5cm/2inch wide armrests and a small gap between the armrests of adjacent seats. A gap that these days could be used for sample a dividing curtain, or a small shield to 100% ensure you don't touch your neighbour, or anything he/she touched, with the hand that soon will inadvertently be touching your face.

Many remember the old class separating curtains used in planes. This could be moved from row to row depending on how many business class customers there was. A similar curtain on every row of seats would be a very good physcial barrier to stop droplets expelled with sneezes, or during conversations, traveling over several rows. An extension could be added down to the armrest between each seat in a row for complete cocooning and removing the need for leaving seats free. When you have taken your seat you sanitize your hands and your are safe even if you touch your face now ad then because your hands will then not touch anything touched by anyone else. Social distancing by walls works in first class so why not. And row separating curtains have been allowed for a long time as a movable class separation. A company has already made a sample: https://simpleflying.com/middle-seat-privacy-screens/ However they could be larger and on the armrest instead of taking a whole seat, to allow full oc...