The changes, which start April 13 and will run until at least May 31, see the airline blocking middle seats in Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+ and Delta Premium Select across all flights.

Other moves include a reduction of the number of customers on each flight and boarding customers ten at a time and reminding them to add extra space as they board.

Delta has also ended automatic, advance Medallion Complimentary Upgrades, which will now be processed at the gate still in priority order to allow gate agents to determine how to best seat customers while considering social distancing and aircraft weight-and-balance restrictions. 

Among other measures, the airline has also streamlined food and beverage service on board all U.S. domestic and international flights, to decrease touch points between customers and crew.

All flight crew have been provided with hand sanitisers in work stations and lounges, with sanitising wipes and gloves on board.

A Delta spokesperson said: “We are using the same electrostatic spraying or ‘fogging’ across our aircraft and at all Reservations and Customer Engagement Centers to administer a safe, high-grade, EPA registered disinfectant that is highly effective against many communicable diseases, including coronaviruses.”

With the U.S. currently closed to all but ‘repatriation flights’ from the UK, and the date for a general resumption of transatlantic flights uncertain, Delta has changed its booking conditions.

New tickets purchased between March 1 and May 31, 2020, can be changed without a change fee for up to a year from the date of purchase.