More room or higher fares? The air travel dilemma

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Today I just saw a news story that said if airlines need to provide social distancing, they will either not book the middle seats.  While on the surface that sounds great to air travelers, there is a likely downside to it - more expensive fares.

According to Travel Pulse, an industry news site, airfares could increase by 54% because of that missing revenue from fewer bookings.  The major carriers like United and American will probably survive this business contraction, but many smaller airlines will not.  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) stated that most flights would only operate at less than 62% load factor.  Much of this is due to the current travel restrictions (as of May 6, 2020), but it's also attributed to many still being reluctant to travel, as well as growing economic hardship with more unemployment.

Interestingly, the medical advisor for IATA, Dr. David Powell, did not completely support the prospect of eliminating middle seats on jets or leaving them unbooked.  Not only is there insufficient evidence for in-flight viral transmission, but the distance between the window and aisle seats average less than three feet.  That's half the recommended length of six feet for social distancing.  

Having flown quite a bit in the past four or five years, I've never really been bothered by completely filled airplanes.  I'm pretty good at achieving a zen state of mind when things get crazy around me, and being on a crammed flight is one of those situations.  

But I've seen others become agitated or even enraged when they must deal with crowds of fellow passengers.  The situation becomes worse when some start to constantly hit the backs of their seats, monopolize the overhead bin space or recline their seats without asking the person behind if it's OK to do so.

I can see the pros and cons for both sides of the argument, but I would probably support fewer seats and paying a little more.  Besides, airlines will probably have to lower their fares, just to encourage people to travel again.  

Where do you stand on this issue?