The holidays are coming, airports are packed and emotions are running high. You’ve probably seen it or even been part of it: that tense moment when a passenger snaps at a flight attendant, or a near-meltdown over a seat reclining too far. Why does flying seem to bring out the worst in us?
Airplanes are, quite literally, a pressure cooker for emotions. For many, airports and airplanes are synonymous with anxiety, which often begins well before they step into the terminal. These environments combine stress, discomfort and a loss of control, often leaving even the calmest travellers feeling on edge.
Planes also make inequalities bleedingly obvious. We’ve all experienced the envy of walking through first-class cabins to reach economy.
It’s easy to see why air rage has become so common. In fact, reported incidents have skyrocketed in recent years, exacerbated by pandemic-related anxieties.
So, let’s have a look at the science behind why we get so cranky when we fly. But more importantly, what we can do about it.
In recent years, reports of unruly passenger behaviour around the world have surged. Perhaps the most comprehensive indicator is the data compiled by the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration, which show a clear connection to the pandemic effect.
In 2021, the administration recorded 5,973 incidents of unruly passenger behaviour. This is a staggering 492% increase compared to the year before. To put this in perspective, the four-year average of such incidents for the period 2017–2020 was 901.75 (2017: 544, 2018: 889, 2019: 1,161, 2020: 1,009).
While the numbers have decreased since their peak in 2021, they remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.
In 2022, the administration reported 2,455 incidents, followed by 2,076 in 2023, and 1,954 so far in 2024 (with final numbers for the year still pending). These incidents in the US alone have led to 402 enforcement actions initiated in 2023, compared to a pre-pandemic high of 83 in a single year. Since 2021, fines totalling more than US$21 million (A$32 million) have been levied as a result of such incidents.
The issue is not limited to the United States (although the US seems to have a higher share of such cases).
The International Air Transport Association reported an increase in unruly passenger incidents globally, with one incident per 568 flights in 2022 – up from one per 835 flights in 2021. The most common types of incidents include non-compliance, verbally abusive behaviour and intoxication. Notably, while non-compliance incidents initially fell after mask mandates were removed on most flights, the frequency began to rise again in 2022, ending the year 37% higher than in 2021.
What’s behind the air rage phenomenon?
Scholarly research has highlighted that the phenomenon arises from an interplay of stressors unique to aviation.
Research consistently identifies the physical environment of airplanes as a significant contributor to passenger frustration and antisocial behaviour.
Factors such as cramped seating, limited personal space and high-density cabin configurations exacerbate discomfort and feelings of confinement.
Psychological factors such as anxiety, claustrophobia and aviophobia (fear of flying) can also trigger an unusual behaviour that the passenger may not show in other social contexts. The role of inequality within the cabin environment is another potent factor.
Alcohol is a dominant precipitant of air rage incidents. Some studies have found that more than half of reported air rage cases involved alcohol intoxication, often fuelled by liberal airport alcohol policies and in-flight consumption.
Empirical data suggest sociodemographic factors play a significant role in air rage incidents.
One study examining 228 air rage cases found nearly 90% of incidents involved male passengers, with younger adults, particularly those aged 30–39, being the most frequently implicated. (The Conversation)
