An American Airlines flight attendant serves drinks to passengers after departing Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
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Robert Alexander/Getty Images
As the holiday travel season approaches, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has initiated a new effort to encourage positive behavior among air travelers. Named “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You,” this campaign aims to foster a sense of courtesy and respect at airports and on flights. The announcement was made last week in a press release from the department.
The DOT released an engaging video that starts with nostalgic scenes of air travel from the past, set to Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly With Me.” However, the footage quickly transitions to more modern-day challenges, including clips of passengers behaving poorly.
In the video, Secretary Sean Duffy poses several reflective questions for travelers, asking if they are offering help to fellow passengers, dressing appropriately, and expressing gratitude to flight staff. “The campaign is intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel,” the press release states. The aim is not only to enhance the travel experience for passengers but also to ensure the safety of everyone involved, from passengers to flight crews.
The DOT highlights a concerning rise in unruly behavior on flights. Since 2021, there have been 13,800 reported incidents involving disruptive passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has noted a 400% increase in such events since 2019. Despite this, the FAA reported a decline in incidents in 2023, with nearly 2,000 cases, down from pandemic-era peaks fueled by mask mandate disputes.
This Thanksgiving is projected to be particularly busy, with the FAA anticipating the highest number of air travelers in 15 years, especially on the Tuesday before the holiday. According to AAA, around 6 million people are expected to take to the skies in the U.S. for Thanksgiving travel.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
