Days after the Supreme Court directed that the safety and social distancing norms should be followed in aircraft, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), here on Monday, asked airlines to keep the middle seats of a row vacant if the passenger load and seat capacity allowed.

Minimise use of middle seat, #DGCA tells airlines

"The airline shall allot seats in a manner that the middle seat or seat between two passengers is kept vacant, if the passenger load and seat capacity permit," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (@DGCAIndia) said. pic.twitter.com/nuZCpnBDcO

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If the middle seat was occupied owing to passenger load, additional protective equipment, like 'wrap around gowns', be provided to people occupying those seats in addition to the three-layered face mask and face shield, the aviation regulator said in a circular.