Tampa International Airport announced a total ban on pajamas in an X post on Thursday, saying that they had “seen enough” and calling on travelers who came through the western Florida hub to dress like it was daytime.
Citing a previous successful ban on Crocs, the statement said that it was finally time to tackle the “much larger crisis” of travelers who move through the airport dressed like they were headed to the refrigerator for a late-night snack.
— Tampa International Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) February 26, 2026
“We’ve seen enough. We’ve had enough,” the announcement read. “It’s time to ban pajamas at Tampa International Airport. After successfully banning Crocs and giving everyone the amazing opportunity to experience the world’s first Crocs-free airport, it’s time to take on a much larger crisis. Pajamas. At. The Airport. In the middle of the day.”
“We know this decision could be disruptive to someone in your life. It’s time to have a difficult conversation with them. You can do this. We (and Phoebe) believe in you,” the statement continued, referencing the airport’s giant pink flamingo statue named Phoebe. “The madness stops today. The movement starts now. Help Tampa International Airport become the world’s first Crocs-free AND pajama-free airport. DO YOUR PART. SAY NO TO PAJAMAS AT TPA.”
The announcement certainly made a splash on X, but was it real? The @FLYTPA account has a reputation for posts that lean into the silly and fun.
On December 26, for example, a post read, “Happy National Pretend to Work Day™ to all who celebrate!!!”
On January 5, another read, “Did you know??? The Tampa Airport gets its name from Tampa, Florida, the city where the airport is located.”
“Good afternoon to everyone except the person who left their freezer open,” a post read as frigid winter weather stretched across the southern United States in late January.
“GOOD MORNING FROM ANTARCTICA,” was the follow-up post a few days later.
Social media manager C.J. Johnson said the silliness was all part of his strategy during a speech at the University of South Florida: “If I got on every day at Tampa International Airport and tweeted we have flights today, who would care? No one. If we do funny silly stuff like this with targeted messages that grow your audience and then I say, ‘Hey guys, by the way, we are closing the airport due to a hurricane,’ then people lean in and listen.”
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