The news in brief

A growing mix of disruptions and familiar airport frictions has left many travelers more anxious about flying, according to passengers and aviation industry officials describing conditions at U.S. airports this week. The stressors include long lines at security checkpoints and delays that have been compounded by recent events such as winter storms, the Iran war and disruptions tied to government shutdowns, the Associated Press reported.

In New Orleans, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy described trying to reach New York’s LaGuardia Airport for an investigation into a runway collision, saying she was stopped for hours in a TSA line while traveling through Houston. Homendy said that while she was stuck in the security line, she contacted officials there to get her through, describing the effort as a plea to move faster.

Homendy’s account came alongside other travelers’ descriptions of how airport security operations affect their plans. John Hoffman, for example, said he returned to Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans after missing a flight to Spokane, Washington, the day before because of security wait times that he said lasted about four hours. Hoffman said the lines moved more quickly on Monday with federal immigration officers supplementing TSA staff, but he questioned whether the added presence justified the expense.

Some travelers reported that delays were not limited to security checkpoints. At Reagan Washington National Airport, college student JD Foster said he waited about 10 minutes in the security line on Monday morning but still missed an appointment after his flight to Boston was repeatedly delayed. Foster said in an email that the airline kept telling him “it’ll be a little bit longer” every 15 minutes until it admitted a malfunction and switched planes, adding that he would have had time to catch an earlier flight if the delay had been handled more honestly.

While some passengers described frustration and lost time, industry representatives urged travelers to keep booking. Chris Sununu, former governor of New Hampshire and president and CEO of Airlines for America, said in a phone interview that the issues travelers are dealing with are temporary and that people should feel confident about buying summer trips. Sununu said “solutions are being presented” and that he expects both solid long-term fixes and some short-term fixes.

Psychiatrists and physicians also described why the current combination of disruptions can intensify anxiety, even when some delays are routine. Dr. Michael Ziffra, a psychiatrist and associate professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, said air travel can be inherently anxiety provoking for many people and that the current “constellation of stressors” adds to that feeling.

Ziffra said travelers should approach the trip with a sense of adventure or acceptance, noting that delays, complications and long lines are possible. He said travelers should try to be at peace with the fact that air travel can be unpredictable, and that while preparation can help—such as confirming flight information and wait times—trying to plan for every scenario can backfire. He recommended bringing enjoyable distractions like snacks, movies and music, and he advised against alcohol, medication or online rants that could worsen mood.

Another physician, Dr. Zaid Fadul, a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon and physician, framed stress reduction as something to do before taking off—mentally “reground” yourself when delays happen. Fadul said delays are normal and that travelers should focus on controlling what they can, such as breathing, and he recommended deep-breathing exercises or techniques like pressing one’s feet onto the floor to steady attention. He also described a recent approach to tempering frustration at long security lines: he said he expressed gratitude to a TSA agent, and that “She lit up,” which made him feel better and less focused on himself.

Fadul said those small actions matter, urging travelers to consider what they can do to make travel “a little less annoying,” and he said kindness can “really land.”

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