Social media users are going viral by sharing their so-called "airport crushes," and now, something known as the "Airport Crush Theory" is making the rounds online.

The phenomenon of airport crushes has been spreading online for years, but it's recently taken off on sites like TikTok, where it's inspiring memes and a whole lot of discourse.

So, what exactly is an airport crush, and what is airport crush theory? Here's what you need to know.

What Is 'Airport Crush Theory?'

For those who don't know, an airport crush is a slang term for an infatuation that you develop for someone whom you see at the airport.

According to people online, this is a common phenomenon and has been documented on the internet by numerous people. Many people describe airport crushes as immediate and acknowledge that they will likely never see the person they have a crush on again.

Airport crush theory is a theory relating to the idea of airport crushes. The theory claims that people look more attractive in the airport than they do in other situations, leading to airport crushes.

Of course, there are no studies on the topic and no official consensus on whether or not it's true, but the phenomenon has been shared by numerous people over the years, inspiring a lot of memes and discourse.

@sewphy

should I go talk to him omg

♬ why r so many hot people using this – shamelessistherapy

How Is 'Airport Crush Theory' Used In Memes?

The idea of airport crushes has become a viral meme throughout the 2020s, most notably on TikTok.

Most of the videos relating to airport crushes are memes where one person films another, claiming they're their airport crush. Others are skits in which people relate to the idea of having an airport crush they'll never see again.

Recently, airport crush theory became a big term on sites like X / Twitter and Facebook as users began sharing a video of Korean model Eunchae Jang (@itseunchaeofficial) sitting in the airport. The video has been captioned, "Airport crush theory is real."

What Are Some More 'Airport Crush' Memes?

@_emilyshay my airport crush is on my plane guys should i ask for his snap? #fyp #springbreak #airportcrush #viral ♬ laszewo x asap rocky x HIGHJACK – matt.

@nikhilfinalboss #thegoat ♬ The Man – Aloe Blacc

@sadiereevesstevens personally i think yes #airportcrush #traveling #houstonairport #sadiereeves #foryoupage #fyp ♬ party in the usa – s

@lala_sadii It was just so funny how he was everywhere and then at my flight😭 imagine he sits next to me hahaha #airportcrush ♬ falling for ya – ★spedupaudios

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For the full history of Airport Crush Theory, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.