Author: Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY

Southwest Airlines will stop blocking middle seats on its flights in December as holiday travel ticks up.

The airline’s new policy takes effect Dec. 1. Delta and Alaska Airlines are blocking seats into early January.

Southwest Airlines plans to begin flights to Savannah, Georgia; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Jackson, Mississippi in 2021.

Airlines have dramatically cut fall flights because the travel rebound seen this summer stalled when COVID-19 cases spiked.

The airlines’ moves come 24 hours after rival United became the first U.S. carrier to eliminate the dreaded $200 fee. Southwest has never charged one.

Airlines have waived onerous change fees since the coronavirus crisis began, but United is the first to permanently eliminate them on U.S. flights.

The airline’s policy of blocking middle seats and limiting the number of passengers per plane was due to expire Sept. 30.

Hawaii’s planned Sept. 1 start date for allowing out-of-state visitors to bypass a 14-day quarantine has been delayed until October.

The State Department was not able to issue passports, except for emergencies, for several months beginning in March, so there is a large backlog.