Reset the NVRAM and SMC first.

Yes, and don’t rush to the Genius Bar. Intermittent flicker on wake is almost always a software or settings glitch, not a dying display.

On Intel MacBook Airs, resetting the NVRAM (hold Option+Command+P+R at startup) fixes this more often than not. On Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3), just restart or reset the SMC by shutting down and plugging in the power. While you’re at it, go to System Settings > Displays and turn off “Automatically adjust brightness” if it’s on — that setting can cause flicker after sleep, especially in weird lighting.

If none of that works, test in Safe Mode (hold Shift at boot). If the flicker stops, it’s a third-party app or a corrupted preference file, not hardware. Back up, then try reinstalling macOS.

I’ve seen this exact issue on half a dozen MacBook Airs. Never once needed a repair.

Don’t let it drive you crazy.