BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Department of Transportation recently launched a new civility campaign "to restore class and courtesy to air travel."
The campaign titled, "The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You," was created by U.S. Tranportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy as a way to address what he calls a record surge in unruly passengers. According to a report from the DOT, the amount of incidents ranging from disruptive behavior to violence have dramatically increased.
The Federal Aviation Administration says they have seen a 400% rise in the number of inflight outburts in 2024 compared to 2019. Since 2021, there have been more than 13,000 unruly passengers incidents and 1 in 5 flight attendants experienced physical incidents.
That's partly why the agency launched the campaign with questions that we should be asking ourselves including if we're helping the elderly or pregnant with their bags, are you controlling your children and helping them through the airport, are you saying thank you to your flight attendants and are you dressing with respect?
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WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas spoke with travelers at Logan Airport to get thoughts on the new campaign.
"You just don't want to dress so formal and then be so uncomfortable for like a five, six hour flight," Alex of Boston said. "As long as it's like not exposing you, comfort is the most important thing during travel."
"I think it's ridiculous and that we have far more to focus on than what we're wearing to the airport," another traveler said.
Some Bay Staters think the campaign isn't useful at all.
"It's not needed and it's absolutely common sense," another traveler said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.