by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:20 AM ET, Wed June 28, 2023
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced its
employees are prepared for the Independence Day holiday travel period and the sustained
higher summertime passenger volumes at airport security checkpoints across the
United States.
TSA anticipates the busiest travel days will occur between
June 29 and July 5, with the peak travel day of the holiday weekend expected to
be June 30, with TSA screening an estimated 2.82 million individuals and
approximately 17.7 million during the seven-day travel period.
Friday’s travel estimates would surpass the TSA’s current
single-day travel record since June 16, when TSA screened nearly 2.8 million
passengers. The peak Fourth of July holiday travel day in 2019 was July 7, when
TSA screened 2.79 million passengers.
“TSA is staffed and ready for the increasing travel volumes
during this holiday travel period with the technologies and resources for
improved security effectiveness, efficiency and passenger experience at
security checkpoints,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said.
“With the new pay implementation plan for all TSA employees
starting in July, attrition levels at TSA have dropped to historic lows, which
means our increased employee retention has resulted in sufficient staffing
levels to meet the increased passenger demand throughout the country,” Pekoske continued.
Based on the most recent trends at the nation’s airports,
TSA recommends that travelers sign up for PreCheck, avoid packing firearms and
ammunition, empty their bags before packing them, be aware of potential delays
and acclimate to checkpoint screening technology.
Checkpoint-ready passengers are also instrumental in helping
with efficiency. When travelers arrive with their identification credentials in
hand and avoid the delays associated with bringing firearms, oversized liquids
and other prohibited items into the checkpoint, it facilitates faster screening
for everyone.
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