SALZBURG—Lufthansa and Lufthansa Group LCC Eurowings are introducing further measures to ensure physical distance between passengers during their journey as the carriers continue flights amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Starting Mar. 27, neighboring economy and premium economy seats will be blocked to remain free on all flights from Germany and flights within Germany. This regulation does not apply on flights to Germany, as it focuses on returning as many people as possible to their home country. 

In addition, all Lufthansa and Eurowings flights at domestic airports will be only handled at building gate-positions wherever possible, given the existing airport’s infrastructure and official regulations. This measure intends to help passengers avoid having to take bus trips.

Where this is not possible on short notice, twice as many buses will operate, which has been the case for the last few days. 

Both measures will apply until Apr. 19 and have been coordinated between German Federal Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer and Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr.

Lufthansa and Eurowings have already taken numerous measures to increase the distance between passengers along the entire travel chain, such as at check-in counters or when boarding and disembarking the aircraft.

Onboard servicing has also been adapted to conform with the current physical distancing measures.