Are YOU Part of the Problem? DOT Campaign Targets Unruly Behavior Ahead of Holiday Rush

Ahead of Holiday Rush, Trump’s Transportation Secretary Unveils Campaign to Combat 400% Surge in In-Flight Outbursts

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ—Just ahead of the hyper-busy holiday travel season, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has rolled out a new initiative to restore manners and courtesy to American skies.

The campaign, titled “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You,” is a direct response to the alarming surge in disruptive and unruly passenger behavior that has plagued airports and airlines in recent years, impacting millions of Americans.

Secretary Duffy launched the effort on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, emphasizing that restoring civility is not just about comfort—it’s about ensuring the safety of passengers, pilots, and flight crews nationwide.

The Data Doesn’t Lie: A Crisis of Conduct

The launch of the campaign is backed by hard numbers illustrating the deterioration of the travel experience since the pandemic:

• 400% Increase: Since 2019, the FAA has documented a 400% increase in in-flight outbursts, ranging from verbal disruptions to outright violence.

• 13,800 Incidents: Over 13,800 unruly passenger incidents have been reported since 2021 alone.

• Flight Attendant Impact: In 2021, 1 in 5 flight attendants reported experiencing a physical incident.

• 2024 Surge: Last year saw double the number of unruly passenger events compared with pre-pandemic 2019.

Restoring Courtesy: Key Questions for Every Flyer

The campaign calls on every American traveler to do their part by focusing on basic manners and common sense. Secretary Duffy posed several key questions travelers should ask themselves this holiday season:

• Are you offering assistance to elderly or pregnant travelers with luggage?

• Are you dressing with respect for the travel environment?

• Are you managing and controlling your children throughout the airport and flight?

• Are you simply saying “please” and “thank you” to airline staff?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) argues that restoring these shared values will help Americans feel more connected and reduce the stress associated with modern travel.

DOT’s Commitment to the Golden Age

The civility campaign is part of a larger push by the DOT to “usher a Golden Age of Travel.” This includes major infrastructure and staffing initiatives alongside the appeal for better behavior:

• Building an all-new air traffic control system.

• Surging air traffic control hiring to ease delays and congestion.

• Making the overall travel experience more family-friendly.

The message is clear: while the government works to fix the systems, travelers must take responsibility for fixing the behavior.

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