(Champaign County, IL) — Experts have some advise for air travelers this holiday season. A recent study published in the Journal of Air Transport Management used the latest data on aerosol spread to model the most advantageous seating assignments on common Boeing airplanes. Co-author Sheldon Jacobson says opening the air vents above your seat provides extra protection. He also reminded passengers to wear masks on planes, with the individual risk of contracting or spreading the virus depending on the quality of the mask and whether it’s removed.
As for airlines, the engineering professor says to reduce overall risk, families or household groups should be seated together. Jacobson and his research team also found the plane’s very last rows had less transmission because fewer people were behind them. For the most protective seating arrangements, the study recommends leaving middle seats open and skipping rows.