In 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation received a record number of nearly 97,000 consumer complaints about air travel, signaling a significant increase from the previous year. Despite a decrease in flight cancellations, delays remained high at around 21% of all flights. The majority of complaints were directed towards U.S. airlines, with an increase in grievances related to the treatment of passengers with disabilities and discrimination based on race or national origin. While official numbers provide insight into the challenges faced by travelers, airlines likely receive many more complaints that go unreported to the government. The Department of Transportation is working on modernizing its complaint system to better regulate the industry, but currently releases complaint data with significant delay. If travelers wish to file a complaint, they can do so through the department's online form.