Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy groaned to reporters Monday concerning the “degradation in civility” at airports, urging individuals to decorate “with some respect” as they journey for the vacations.
“I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better, which encourages us to maybe behave a little better,” he stated. “Let’s try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport.”
Duffy has devoted himself to bringing airports again to the “Golden Age of Travel,” encouraging vacationers to “dress up to go to the airport.”
Vacationers wait in lengthy safety strains at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Nov. 3.
And whereas Duffy is concentrated on what passengers are sporting, federal officers final week withdrew a Biden-era proposal to reimburse vacationers for large delays.
Beforehand, the proposal required clients to be paid as much as $525 for carrier-caused home flight delays between three and 9 hours. For delays longer than 9 hours, reimbursement could be between $750 and $775. It additionally required airways to pay for associated bills, like lodging and meals.
Naturally, that is broadly opposed by airline companies. And in response to Duffy, degrading airport situations has extra to do with the traveler than any inhospitable journey situations perpetuated by airways or airports themselves.
However, shockingly, the gown code isn’t the largest downside plaguing vacationers proper now. Earlier this yr, President Donald Trump fired lots of of air site visitors controllers, regardless of a lethal crash occurring simply weeks earlier than.
Quickly after, the Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport skilled a disaster with a number of harmful radar outages. However whereas the airport handled large delays consequently, Duffy conveniently had his spouse’s flight rerouted to a distinct location.
Associated | Air site visitors controllers are nonetheless reeling from Trump’s shutdown
Equally, throughout the federal government shutdown, Duffy reduce flight capability by as much as 10% at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports. And as punishment to those that took any break day through the shutdown, Duffy gave bonuses to only 7% of the air site visitors controllers and technicians who labored with out pay for all the 43-day shutdown.
So, sure, touring for the vacations is about to be a hellish nightmare. However, due to Duffy, at the very least you’ll look mighty spiffy whereas doing it.