Increased travel anxiety seen amid rise in air incidents, government policies

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Summer travel season is approaching, and many Americans are busy making vacation plans—but growing anxiety around flying is hindering some of those plans.

For many, traveling is a fun luxury, but for others, it packs high anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted consumer confidence in air travel. While confidence has improved over the years, recent air incidents and economic factors have taken a toll.

“The number of bookings have gone down quite a bit. As we are speaking it is now 25%-30% less than it was last year,” said Virginia Tech Hospitality & Tourism Management Professor Mahmood Khan.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 52 deadly aviation accidents were reported in the U.S. in 2025, raising concerns about air travel safety. Khan said inflation, travel bans and other government policies are also putting a strain on passengers.

“They don’t know what’s going to happen. The new tariffs, the delays and the problems with the airlines, the incidents that took place. Plus, consumer behavior. There were a lot of incidents when they weren’t going to give up their seat, they were not being considerate of others, there was no empathy involved. All of that combined has an impact,” said Khan.

He adds workforce shortages and hiring freezes hinder airlines’ ability to recover quickly, and results in fewer available flights.

“The industry is trying to recover, but it’s going to take some time. And that’s where the airlines are facing these kinds of situations where they are trying their best, but they don’t have all the things that is needed to make the travel successful,” said Khan.

Due to these concerns, many travelers are choosing to drive instead of fly. For those feeling anxious about traveling, Khan suggests planning ahead or considering trips closer to home.

“Go to ecotourism, go to a scenic area that’s close by, go to a historical sight you haven’t seen. Don’t take international flights because that could build anxiety more,” said Khan.