Air Travel Anxiety Rises Amid Disruptions

Frequent flyers face growing list of stressors beyond just fear of flying

Mar. 24, 2026 at 5:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The list of reasons why air travel can be stressful has grown as long as the security lines at some U.S. airports in recent months. Government shutdowns, back-to-back winter storms, the Iran war, and a fatal runway collision have all disrupted airline travel, adding to the usual hassles like seat selection, baggage fees, overbooked flights, and takeoff delays. Even frequent flyers are thinking twice about booking trips that require boarding a commercial airplane.

Why it matters

Air travel anxiety is on the rise due to a confluence of factors, from government shutdowns and extreme weather to military conflicts and infrastructure issues. This is impacting the travel plans and experiences of many Americans, raising concerns about the overall health of the airline industry and the ability of travelers to navigate an increasingly unpredictable system.

The details

Crowded airport checkpoints due to a funding standoff on Capitol Hill, and President Donald Trump's decision to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and agents to help with airport security, were top of mind for many passengers on Monday. A National Transportation Safety Board air-traffic control specialist trying to get to New York's LaGuardia Airport for an investigation was stuck in a TSA line in Houston for three hours. Passengers at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans and Reagan Washington National Airport also reported long lines and delays.

  • In recent months, government shutdowns, back-to-back winter storms, and the Iran war have disrupted airline travel.
  • On Monday, crowded airport checkpoints due to a funding standoff and the deployment of ICE officers were issues for many passengers.

The players

Jennifer Homendy

Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board.

John Hoffman

A passenger at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans.

JD Foster

A college student and passenger at Reagan Washington National Airport.

Chris Sununu

Former governor of New Hampshire and president and CEO of Airlines for America.

Dr. Michael Ziffra

A psychiatrist and associate professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The lines are shorter today. But in my mind, we can fund TSA a lot less expensive than we can send ICE here, put them up in hotels and all the things that go along with that.”

— John Hoffman, Passenger

“They just kept saying 'it'll be a little bit longer' every 15 minutes until they admitted it was a part malfunctioning and they switched planes. I would have had enough time to get an earlier flight if they would have been honest about the delay.”

— JD Foster, College student and passenger

“The issues we're dealing with today are truly temporary. People should know that solutions are being presented, and I think we think there are some solid long-term fixes and even some short-term fixes here, so people should feel confident buying in.”

— Chris Sununu, President and CEO of Airlines for America

“You're gonna get delays, you're gonna get complications, you might get long lines. So just try to somehow be at peace with the fact that air travel can be inherently unpredictable.”

— Dr. Michael Ziffra, Psychiatrist and associate professor

“I always tell people, all's fair in love and travel. Delays are normal, it's a part of life, and you have to find ways to really reground yourself.”

— Dr. Zaid Fadul, U.S. Air Force flight surgeon and physician

What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Board will continue its investigation into the runway collision at LaGuardia Airport. Airlines and government agencies are also working on short-term and long-term solutions to address the various disruptions impacting air travel.

The takeaway

Air travel anxiety is on the rise due to a confluence of factors, from government shutdowns and extreme weather to military conflicts and infrastructure issues. While some solutions are being presented, travelers must learn to manage their expectations and find ways to stay grounded and resilient in the face of the growing unpredictability of air travel.