Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 164; Flight Crew Total 23151; Flight Crew Type 5538
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related
I was Captain [on] Flight ABC ZZZ to ZZZ1.  We flew the inbound in the same aircraft from ZZZ1; both flights were completely full.  In between the flights; I did my setup for departure; and then went to walk the terminal for a moment. What I saw as I left the jetway into ZZZ terminal was a little shocking in today's safety and COVID environment.  The end of the terminal had about four flights all trying to load or unload at the same time. The area isn't large but there was at least 1;000 people crammed into the jet way area. No one had room to social distance. Everyone did have a mask on; but it was very uncomfortable. I navigated as well as I could past the crowd as quickly as I could and went much further into the terminal to find an open area. I kept an eye on the loading area from afar but it took a long time to empty the crowd as they boarded. I didn't go back near the gate until about 10 minutes to departure. It was still crowded on my flight and the other boarding planes had crowds around. The jet bridge backed up and our airplane didn't get loaded until just before departure time. I know the agents were trying as best they could; but when that many planes are set to depart at the same time it was difficult. I asked about it and was told that also [another aircraft] had a mechanical and had to de-board all of its passengers into the same crowd as it was awaiting parts.An agent asked our passengers who were at a standstill on the jetway to please get seated quickly; so we didn't have to delay the flight. One passenger said there isn't anywhere to go as the line was just stopped. I feel the management of this boarding process was not well thought out.  If flights are departing that close in time they should be spaced in gates down the concourse apart from each other. If this is the operation each day of the week; it should be looked at to see if there is a better way.
Air carrier Captain reported that a large number of passengers waiting to board at several adjacent gates were standing so close together that social distancing was not possible. The Captain suggested that the gates in use be spaced out.