Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Monday encouraged airline passengers to be courteous ahead of the holiday season, emphasizing the importance of being well dressed.
“How do we maintain maybe some of that frustration we have as we travel this Thanksgiving season? Maybe we should say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to our pilots and to our flight attendants,” Duffy said during a Monday press conference.
“I think — again, I call this — just maybe dressing with some respect, you know, whether it’s a pair of jeans and a decent shirt,” he continued. “And I would encourage people, maybe dress a little better, which encourages us to maybe behave all a little better.”
The Transportation chief added, “Let’s try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport. I think that’s positive.”
His comments come weeks after the record-long government shutdown ruptured travel plans for individuals and families. At least 40 airports had their flights reduced due to increased air traffic controller callouts and retirements which prompted safety concerns amid the lapse in funding.
Controllers were already understaffed prior to the shutdown. The position is considered essential, and many were required to work mandatory overtime without pay.
Duffy said some passengers became unruly amid delays and cancellations, prompting him to promote passengers to maintain their patience and manners amid unexpected changes.
“Let’s be merry this holiday season as we fly! Dress up to go to the airport, help a stranger out, and be in a good mood,” the transportation secretary wrote in a statement on social platform X last week.
He added, “We can bring civility back, it’s as easy as that!”
The Transportation Department said Monday that it is expecting to screen nearly 20 million people this week as officials brace for what some expect to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel season in 15 years.