US screens record-setting air passengers in one day — here’s what to expect 4th of July week
American air travel is soaring to new heights
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened a staggering 2.99 million passengers at airports across the country on Sunday — the highest number in a single day.
But it’s only going to get busier as summer travel takes full flight.
This coming Friday, the TSA says it expects to screen more than 3 million plane passengers ahead of Independence Day.
The number of Americans taking to the skies is up substantially when compared to last summer, with the TSA predicted to scan 32 million between Jun. 27 and Jul. 8 — an increase of 5.4% on those days last year.
Meanwhile, the agency says seven of the top 10 busiest travel days ever have occurred in the past month.
“We expect this summer to be our busiest ever and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The traveling public is on the move, which is a sign of a healthy economy. We are ready, along with our airline and airport partners, to handle this boost in passenger volumes,” he added.
The TSA is prepared for the increased number of travelers, saying they are “staffed to meet its wait time standards, which are 10 minutes and under in TSA PreCheck lanes and 30 minutes and under in standard screening lanes.”
Industry group Airlines for America said US carriers have also prepared for the increased demand in flights.
Between Jun. 1 and Aug. 31, the carriers are operating more than 26,000 daily flights — up 5.6% over 2023.
However, if your check-in goes smoothly, don’t expect to get off the ground on time.
The Federal Aviation Administration is struggling to address a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers, which will likely delay flights across the country.
