The department also wants to bring healthier food options to airports.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is on a mission to transform air travel. After its launch of a campaign on civility, it has announced a $1 billion fund to make the skies family-friendly. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy teamed up with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to announce the campaign, “Make Travel Family Friendly Again.”
The department is inviting airports to submit projects that will help make flying more family-friendly, and Duffy said that the grant guidelines are intentionally vague.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is on a mission to transform air travel. After launching a campaign on civility, the agency has announced a $1 billion fund to make the skies more family-friendly. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy teamed up with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to introduce the effort, “Make Travel Family Friendly Again.”
The department is inviting airports to submit projects that will help improve the flying experience for families, and Duffy said the grant guidelines are intentionally vague.
Continue Reading Article After Our Video
Recommended Fodor’s Video
In its announcement, the department said it wants to incentivize family-friendly services at airports, including playrooms for kids, more space for nursing mothers, and family screening lanes. Beyond infrastructure, the agency is working with partners and airports to offer healthier food options.
During a press conference, Duffy told reporters that these changes are not mandated. “This is a conversation about: Could we offer healthier options? Could we support nursing mothers? How can we make the experience as we all travel together just a little bit better?”
He also said he has spoken with airlines to encourage them to offer healthier food and beverage options onboard.
However, Duffy confirmed there are no current plans to reduce food prices at airports, and there is no update on the Biden-era proposal to require airlines to seat families together for free.
Duffy, along with Kennedy and influencer Paul Saladino, performed pull-ups at the press conference in an effort to motivate travelers to stretch at airports. Farmer’s Fridge CEO Luke Saunders also joined the event; the company provides healthy food options through airport vending machines.
Creator and host Isabel Brown also spoke at the conference, highlighting the need for cleaner spaces for breastfeeding women.
This announcement follows another campaign Duffy launched last month, “The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.” The promotional video featured vintage footage from the 1950s and then cut to modern travelers throwing tantrums. The campaign encouraged people to behave respectfully, help others, and dress well while traveling.
However, the message did not land well with many travelers, who argued that the flying experience today is drastically different. Airlines offer fewer amenities, more cramped seating, and charge for snacks, drinks, and even coat storage. One Reddit user noted, “When airlines start serving free champagne again, I’ll start dressing in a suit again.”
Related: Your Sloppy, Disrespectful Clothing Is the Reason Air Travel Is Bad, Says Transportation Department
While travelers generally agree that kindness and respect matter, many say comfort is a priority during long waits, security lines, and frequent disruptions.
Meanwhile, the department has rolled back consumer protections for fliers. Earlier this month, it scrapped a Biden-era proposal that would have required airlines to offer cash reimbursements of up to $775 for expenses during delays.
