As millions of Americans prepare to fly for Thanksgiving, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is asking travelers to bring more courtesy to the skies. Dress “with respect,” help older passengers with their bags, keep your children calm, and remember to say please and thank you — especially to flight attendants.
These are among the reminders included in a new “civility campaign” launched Thursday, aimed at “restoring courtesy and class to air travel” and curbing a rise in unruly and sometimes violent passenger behavior.
“There’s no question we’ve lost sight of what makes travel fun — the excitement, the relaxation, the cordial conversations,” DOT wrote in a press release while releasing the new campaign. “Americans already feel divided and stressed. We can all do our part to bring back civility, manners, and common sense. When we can unite around shared values, we can feel more connected as a country.”
READ: Why artificial Christmas tree prices are rising in 2025 (
The DOT’s appeal comes amid a noticeable rise in disruptive behavior on flights compared to a decade ago. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there were 2,096 incidents involving unruly passengers last year. That is more than twice the number reported in 2019, highlighting growing concerns over safety and civility in the air.
While tensions in the air remain a concern, the situation has eased compared to the peak seen shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, airlines reported nearly 6,000 cases of unruly passengers, many of them tied to disputes over the federal mask mandate introduced by the Biden administration. When that mandate was lifted in 2022, the number of reported incidents fell by almost 60 percent, marking a significant decline in confrontations mid-flight.
Even without disputes over masks, disruptive behavior in the skies has not returned to pre-pandemic norms. FAA data from last year included reports of passengers assaulting flight attendants, making physical or inappropriate contact with fellow travelers, issuing threats to crew members and, in some cases, attempting to access the flight deck. These incidents show that aggression and misconduct remain a persistent challenge for airlines.
In an effort to tackle the ongoing problem, the FAA adopted a “zero tolerance” policy toward unruly passengers. Instead of relying on warnings or counselling as it often did in the past, the agency shifted its focus to stronger enforcement, issuing tougher legal penalties for travelers who cross the line.
READ: Halloween spending soars to $13.1 billion, turning holiday into major retail event (
Before the policy began, consequences were far less common. In 2017, the government pursued legal action in only a dozen cases and issued about $100,000 in fines. By 2022, that number surged to 567 penalties totaling $8.4 million. Although enforcement has eased somewhat in the past couple of years, it remains significantly higher than before the tougher rules were introduced.
Reflecting on the behavior in the air, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X, “It’s not your imagination. Traveling has become more uncivilized!
The Facts:
❌ 400% increase in outbursts on planes since 2019
❌ 1 in 5 flight attendants report experiencing physical incidents
❌ Unruly passenger events DOUBLED since 2019
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Golden Age of Travel starts with all of us.
It’s time to bring back civility and manners when we travel.”
More than six million people are expected to pass through U.S. airports this Thanksgiving season, according to AAA. While operations have mostly returned to normal after the disruptions caused by the recent government shutdown, travelers should still expect long lines, crowded terminals, delays and occasional cancellations that could easily lead to frustration. DOT hopes its civility message will encourage passengers to stay calm, show consideration for others and help reduce the number of confrontations when travel plans hit a snag.