Fear of flying is a common concern among many Americans, but just how prevalent is it?
Recent CivicScience data reveal that a significant portion of U.S. adults are not fazed by the idea of taking to the skies. In a poll conducted in October 2024 involving 1,407 U.S. respondents, a substantial majority expressed confidence in air travel. Sixty-eight percent of those polled stated they are not afraid of flying, while 11% admitted to a fear of flying, and 20% said they sometimes experience fear.
Delving deeper into the demographics, the data show intriguing patterns related to age and gender. Adults aged 30-44 are the most likely to express fear, with more than 40% feeling afraid at least sometimes. This contrasts with older age groups, particularly those 65 and older, who are more likely to report no fear of flying. In fact, more than two-thirds of this older demographic confidently stated they are not afraid of flying.
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Gender differences also emerge from the CivicScience data. Women are significantly more likely to report a fear of flying, making up 77% of those who said “Yes, I am.” Conversely, men are more likely to express no fear, making up 59% of the “No, I am not” respondents. When it comes to travel plans, men are slightly more likely than women to travel by airplane in the next month. Specifically, 14% of men plan to fly, compared to 10% of women.
While a majority feel comfortable with air travel, some Americans are more likely than otherwise to experience fear of flying. Despite these fears, a portion of the population is gearing up for air travel. The CivicScience poll indicates that 13% of respondents plan to travel by plane in the next month. This figure suggests a steady interest in air travel, even as some individuals grapple with flight-related anxieties.
This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights. Our AI content creation tool, DataScribe, supported the article.
