Comments from the U.S. Transportation Secretary encouraging air travelers to elevate their attire have been met with skepticism from a Canadian aviation specialist, who labeled the appeal as little more than 'wishful thinking.'
A Call for Civility at 30,000 Feet
During a press conference held at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey ahead of the busy American Thanksgiving weekend, Secretary Sean Duffy suggested that improved passenger conduct could significantly enhance the travel experience. He specifically advised against arriving at the airport in sleepwear.
'Let's try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport,' Duffy stated. 'I think that's positive.' He elaborated that his concept involves 'dressing with some respect,' proposing that even casual wear like jeans and a decent shirt could encourage better behavior.
Soaring Unruly Passenger Incidents
Duffy's comments come against a troubling backdrop of increasing disruptions on flights. He revealed that since 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration has recorded a staggering 400 per cent increase in in-flight outbursts. These incidents range from disruptive conduct to outright violence.
Further underscoring the problem, the Secretary pointed to 13,800 unruly-passenger incidents reported since 2021. A particularly alarming statistic from that year showed that one in five flight attendants had experienced a physical incident.
Canadian Expert Questions Enforcement
John Gradek, a lecturer in aviation management at McGill University in Montreal, acknowledged that Duffy made valid points but questioned the practicality of his sartorial suggestions.
'There's no rules about what you should wear,' Gradek told the National Post. 'There are rules about how you behave, but I think Secretary Duffy is getting frustrated and would like to see some other behaviours curtailed, and a dress code is one of those behaviours that he thinks needs to be changed.'
Gradek ultimately concluded that without regulatory power, the Secretary's desire is likely unenforceable. 'I think it's just wishful thinking on his part, because he doesn't like to see fights on airplanes,' he said.
The debate was sparked by Duffy's new initiative, 'The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.' The campaign nostalgically references a bygone era of air travel, complete with a promotional video featuring classic Pan Am flights and the Frank Sinatra song 'Come Fly With Me.'
Gradek interpreted this as a longing for the 1950s, a time when passengers dressed formally for flights. 'The world has changed, Mr. Duffy,' Gradek remarked. 'We now have a very different set of social guidelines, social mores.' While he applauded the attempt at 'moral suasion,' he noted that Duffy possesses the regulatory authority to enforce changes if he truly decides to do so, though the Secretary has seemingly stepped back from that level of intervention.
