WASHINGTON, August 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared to screen more than 17 million people during what is expected to be the busiest travel period on record for Labor Day, which will last Thursday August 29 through Wednesday September 4th. The peak travel day is expected to be August 30as the TSA plans to screen 2.86 million people.
Air travel volumes this summer are the highest the agency has ever seen. The agency expects passenger volumes to be 8.5% higher than last year at this time, and has already screened 239.8 million people since Memorial Day weekend, an average of 2.7 million per day. The agency's 10 busiest travel days in history have all occurred this year since May 2024The agency has reached a new milestone in July 7thwhen Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) screened more than 3 million people in a single day.
“People are traveling more than ever this summer, and TSA, along with our airline and airport partners, are prepared to wrap up the busiest summer travel period on record this upcoming Labor Day weekend,” the TSA administrator said. David Pekoske“I commend our vigilant staff, from our frontline transportation security officers at airport security checkpoints across the country to those behind the scenes who work hard to keep the transportation system safe, especially as we continue to deploy new checkpoint technologies that improve security effectiveness, efficiency and the passenger experience.”
TSA is staffed to meet its wait time standards, which are 10 minutes or less in TSA PreCheck® lanes and 30 minutes or less in standard screening lanes. With this increase in travel volume, TSA recommends that airline passengers travel with ease by registering for the TSA PreCheck Trusted Traveler programwhere members do not need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, food, and light jackets at the checkpoint. TSA PreCheck members are reminded to ensure their Known Traveler Number (KTN) is included in their airline reservation so it appears on their boarding pass.
REAL ID will come into force in less than nine months, starting from May 7, 2025. Airline passengers will soon be required to present a REAL ID-compliant form of identification when traveling by plane. If a driver's license is not REAL ID-compliant, they will need to present another acceptable form of identification, such as a U.S. passport. REAL ID driver's licenses and ID cards have a small star in the upper right corner, indicating that they comply with federal regulations that set minimum security standards.
Check out the TSA's top travel tips for an efficient and successful trip in complete safety.
SOURCE Transportation Security Administration
