Weeks after the last record-breaking day, US airports have once again written history as far as the number of screened passengers is concerned. On Sunday, 23 June, 2.99 million passengers made their way through airports across the country, according to the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Only a few weeks ago, coinciding with the start of Memorial Day weekend, the TSA reported the busiest-ever day at American airports, with 2.95 million passengers screened at security checkpoints. On Sunday, that number grew even further to 2,996,193 or approximately 45,000 more than the 2,951,163 who went through checkpoints on 24 May. So far, seven of the ten busiest days in the TSA’s history took place in 2024.
JUST IN: Friday, June 21st, was the 8th busiest day ever for TSA – our officers screened 2.87M individuals at airports. If you’re traveling this weekend, be sure to arrive at airports early! If you have any travel questions, please contact our @AskTSA team, or message them by… pic.twitter.com/zWs2HxDPjy
— TSA (@TSA) June 22, 2024
It looks like the increase will not stop anytime soon. With the 4th of July long weekend around the corner, the TSA expects to screen a total of 32 million travellers between 27 June and 8 July. If that number is met, it would be a 5.4% increase compared to the same period last year.
“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. “Compared to last year, we have cut our attrition rates by almost half and increased our recruiting. The travelling 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.”
The TSA isn’t the only one optimistic about this year’s travel numbers. Airlines for America, who represents the largest US carriers, has predicted a 6.3% increase in air travel during the summer months compared to 2023. Moreover, the American Automobile Association (AAA) expects nearly 71 million people to travel over the 4th of July week.
“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day”, said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people travelling compared to 2019.” Â
