Air travel in the United States is set to surpass pre-pandemic levels this spring, according to industry trade group Airlines for America. However, a stretched-thin system, caused by years of federal underinvestment, cannot meet the rising demand, leading to inefficiencies and passenger dissatisfaction. A recently conducted survey found that nearly half of American travelers rate the air travel experience as average or below average, with crowds and congestion, flight delays or cancellations, airport security process, and cumbersome travel logistics cited as main contributors. Nearly 4 in 10 leisure travelers would travel more in the next six months if the travel experience was not a hassle. The US Travel Association has identified multiple recommendations to address system inadequacies to meet rising demand. Congress needs to address inefficiencies across the system and build a world-class air travel experience, while the federal government should accelerate the use of biometric data to expedite the airport security process and create a more seamless, secure travel experience for air travelers.