The study showed the tradition is most common on holiday flights departing from Central and Eastern Europe, where about 45-48% of Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Romanian passengers said they clap. By contrast, the share of British, Swiss, and Serbian passengers applauding after landing barely reached 30%.
According to the survey, less frequent travelers are more likely to join in. Seventy percent of respondents who fly no more than once a year said they clap, compared with 59% among those who fly several times annually. For passengers who take more than 10 flights a year, the figure dropped to around 40%. Many said they clap out of relief at having arrived safely and as a way to express gratitude to the crew.
Motivations also vary by region. In Central and Eastern Europe, 38% of respondents said they clap to celebrate a safe landing, while in Western Europe just 31% gave that answer. Western Europeans were more likely to describe clapping as recognition of the crew’s work, at 28%, compared with 23% in the east. Across all regions, about one in five passengers admitted they clap simply because others around them do.
Overall, a little more than half of respondents – about 55% – said they typically applaud upon landing. The youngest travelers, aged 18 to 24, were the most enthusiastic, with 64% reporting they clap, followed by 57% of those aged 45 to 64 and 54% of those 35 to 44. The study concluded that age does not directly determine the habit.
The survey also included flight attendants, who largely agreed that conformity plays a role and noted applause is more common after unusual or turbulent flights. Nearly two-thirds said the practice is declining as flying becomes more routine. They observed clapping was most popular among Romanian, Albanian and Italian passengers.
Psychologists from the Mélylevegő Project commented on the findings, saying: “Applause after landing is, for many, a kind of collective relief that expresses gratitude and a sense of regaining control after being in a situation where someone else held it. Our psyche loves small rituals, especially those that provide both a sense of safety and community – and sometimes, a round of applause is just such a little micro-celebration.”
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