Transportation Department Launches Civility Campaign as In-Flight Outbursts Surge 400 Percent

The campaign comes ahead of the Thanksgiving holidays, which is expected to see 6 million people travel via air.

Travelers queue at Miami International Airport during Memorial Day weekend in Miami, Fla., on May 24, 2025. This Memorial Day, travel is expected to break records according to AAA, with an estimated 45.1 million travelers. About 3.6 million of those expected travelers will be flying to their destinations. Giorgio VIera/AFP via Getty Images

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has launched “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You” campaign ahead of the upcoming holiday travel season, aimed at triggering conversation nationwide over the return of civility in air travel, the Department of Transportation (DOT) said in a Nov. 19 statement.

Air travel has become more unruly over the years, DOT said. Since 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has seen a 400 percent surge in in-flight outbursts from travelers, ranging from disruptive behaviors to violent actions.