Airline executive says social distancing on airplanes would be nothing more than a 'PR strategy'

An executive for United Airlines on Wednesday dismissed arguments that his company should maintain rigorous social distancing on its flights, calling that argument nothing more than a public relations gambit rather than a true health-and-safety measure. 

Josh Earnest, the company's senior vice president and its top spokesman, told Business Insider that blocking out middle seats in company airplanes would constitute "a PR strategy," rather than "a safety strategy."

Earnest is a former Obama administration press secretary. 

"When you're onboard the aircraft, if you're sitting in the aisle and the middle seat is empty, the person across the aisle from you is within six feet of you," he said. "The person at the window is within six feet of you. The people in the row in front of you are within six feet of you, the people in the row behind you are within six feet of you."

He argued that mask-wearing, proper air circulation and regular sanitization of airplanes were more effective measures at countering the spread of the virus on planes. 

The company recently changed its social distancing policy to allow passengers to occupy middle seats on airliners. Public health officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield have in recent days criticized airlines for relaxing strict social distancing rules as Americans gradually begin traveling again.