The Department of Transportation has launched a "civility campaign" urging courtesy as the nation prepares for a heavy Thanksgiving travel period. The move responds to a sustained rise in unruly passenger incidents — 2,096 last year and nearly 6,000 in 2021 — many tied to pandemic mask disputes. The FAA has moved to a "zero tolerance" enforcement stance, increasing fines and legal actions. DOT officials hope the campaign’s simple behavior reminders will reduce confrontations among more than 6 million expected holiday travelers.
DOT Launches 'Civility Campaign' Ahead of Record Thanksgiving Travel to Curb Unruly Passengers
The Department of Transportation has launched a "civility campaign" urging courtesy as the nation prepares for a heavy Thanksgiving travel period. The move responds to a sustained rise in unruly passenger incidents — 2,096 last year and nearly 6,000 in 2021 — many tied to pandemic mask disputes. The FAA has moved to a "zero tolerance" enforcement stance, increasing fines and legal actions. DOT officials hope the campaign’s simple behavior reminders will reduce confrontations among more than 6 million expected holiday travelers.
05:32 AM, 11/21/2025Society
The Department of Transportation has launched a national "civility campaign" urging travelers to be courteous as the U.S. heads into what officials expect will be a record Thanksgiving travel period. The campaign offers simple recommendations — dress respectfully, help elderly passengers with luggage, keep children under control and say please and thank you, especially to flight attendants — aimed at reducing confrontations in airports and on planes.
Why the campaign now?
Disorderly passenger behavior has increased since before the pandemic. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded 2,096 unruly-passenger incidents last year, more than double the number in 2019. Incidents peaked in 2021 with nearly 6,000 reports, the majority related to refusal to comply with the federal mask mandate. When that mandate ended in 2022, incidents dropped by almost 60% but have remained higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Enforcement and policy changes
In response to the trend, the FAA adopted a "zero tolerance" approach: the agency has reduced its reliance on warnings and counseling and increased legal penalties for serious misconduct. Enforcement statistics illustrate the shift — in 2017 the government pursued legal action after 12 incidents and levied about $100,000 in fines. By 2022 the FAA issued 567 legal penalties totaling roughly $8.4 million. Though the totals have eased from their pandemic peak, they remain well above the pre-2020 baseline.
“There’s no question we’ve lost sight of what makes travel fun — the excitement, the relaxation, the cordial conversations,” the DOT said in its campaign announcement. “Americans already feel divided and stressed. We can all do our part to bring back civility, manners, and common sense.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed the message on social media: “Traveling has become more uncivilized! But it doesn’t have to be this way.”
What travelers can expect
More than 6 million people are expected to travel through U.S. airports this Thanksgiving, according to AAA estimates. Airport operations have largely stabilized after disruptions tied to a recent government shutdown, but long lines, crowded terminals and weather-related delays remain likely. DOT hopes the civility campaign will reduce public confrontations when travel goes off script.
The campaign emphasizes small, practical behaviors that can defuse friction: be patient in lines, communicate politely with crew and fellow passengers, and seek help from staff rather than escalating a dispute. The DOT and FAA say stiffer enforcement remains a backstop for serious or violent incidents.