US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a new public awareness campaign urging Americans to be considerate when flying — including dressing better, helping fellow passengers and refraining from putting their feet on seats.
Speaking at Newark Airport in New Jersey, Duffy said he had observed a “decline in civility” among airline passengers, prompting him to decide to launch what he called a “campaign for civility” during the tough holiday travel season.
“Don’t wear pajamas and slippers”
Duffy urged travelers to rethink their airport attire.
“Whether it’s jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better, which encourages us to maybe behave a little better,” he said.
“Let’s try not to wear slippers and pajamas to the airport.”
He also urged passengers not to take off their shoes or rest their feet on their seats during the flight.
“Don’t take off your shoes and put your feet on the chair in front of you,” Duffy warned him.
Calls for courtesy to the crew
The secretary urged passengers to show basic respect to airline staff.
“Please say thank you to our pilots and our flight attendants,” he said, adding that passengers should dress “with some respect”.
He also urged passengers to help fellow travelers struggling with overhead luggage as a simple act of courtesy.
Aviation incidents up 400%
Duffy’s initiative comes amid a 400 percent increase in in-flight malfunctions since 2019, according to FAA data. These incidents range from unruly behavior to violence, increasing the burden on airport crew and security.
