Why do some passengers clap after landing? Wizz Air study reveals surprising patterns

Almost everyone has experienced that moment during a flight when, after landing, some passengers start clapping while others remain silent. But what’s really behind the applause? Wizz Air recently conducted an international study involving 4,500 passengers and 150 flight attendants, uncovering some intriguing patterns.

Clapping most common in Eastern and Central Europe

According to the study, applause is most frequently observed on leisure flights from Eastern and Central Europe. In Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania, about 45–48 percent of passengers clap after landing. By contrast, among British, Swiss, or Serbian travelers, the rate barely reaches 30 percent. One explanation is that more people taking off from Eastern Europe are flying for the first time or do so infrequently, which correlates with a higher likelihood of clapping.

As AIRportal.hu reports, the frequency of air travel also influences this behavior: 70 percent of people who fly only once a year clap, while the rate drops to 59 percent for those who fly several times a year. Among frequent flyers (those traveling ten or more times annually), just 40 percent applaud. Among those who do clap, it’s often a way to express relief, gratitude for a safe landing, and overall satisfaction.

Motivations for clapping vary by region

The Wizz Air study also found that the reasons behind the applause vary by region. In Eastern and Central Europe, the leading motivation (cited by 38 percent) is the feeling of safety after a successful landing. In Western Europe, however, recognizing the crew’s work is more important, with 28 percent citing it as their primary reason. One in five respondents admitted to clapping simply because others did, highlighting the role of social conformity.

Age also plays a role, though not definitively: 64 percent of 18–24-year-olds say they clap after landing, followed by 57 percent of those aged 45–64, and 54 percent of people aged 35–44.

Flight attendants see a decline in the practice

Flight attendants’ experiences back up these findings. They say that conformity plays a big role and that applause is more common after unusual or turbulent flights. However, the practice is on the decline, likely due to the increasing normalization of air travel. Most flight attendants report that fewer than half of today’s passengers take part in post-landing clapping.

Psychologists suggest that clapping after landing is a form of collective relief: an expression of gratitude and reclaiming of control after a situation where passengers had none. “Our psyche loves small rituals, especially those that bring a sense of safety and shared experience. Sometimes, a round of applause is just that: a little micro-celebration,” explained an expert from the Mélylevegő Project psychology group.

Read more news about Wizz Air on Daily News Hungary!

Read also:

• Wizz Air to launch domestic flights in this European country after several years!
• Explanation: Death screams on Wizz Air flight – but what really happened during the storm in Rome?

To read or share this article in Hungarian, click here: Helló Magyar