by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:58 PM ET, Thu May 23, 2019
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is predicting the 2019 summer travel period will be the busiest in history for the agency.
In total, TSA officials expect 263 million passengers and crew members to pass through security checkpoints nationwide from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. The total is a four percent increase from the previous, which equates to around 10 million more passengers.
Last year, TSA agents screened 250,918,233 passengers and crew, which included nine of the top 10 busiest weeks in its history during the summer season. To support the summer surge, TSA has increased airport security staffing levels, provided a 20 percent increase in overtime funds to local TSA leadership and deployed additional passenger screening canine teams.
"This summer we're expecting to screen over 2.7 million travelers on peak days," TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Patricia Cogswell said in a statement. "Our dedicated transportation security officers, inspectors, air marshals, and support personnel are working around the clock to ensure traveler security during this record-breaking travel season."
TSA continues to deploy new technologies and explore new ways to increase efficiency and security effectiveness, including automated screening lanes, computed tomography, credential authentication technology and more.
"Passengers can help by arriving early and prepared for the security screening process, packing carry-on bags so they can be easily screened, and ensuring that neither they nor their bags contain prohibited items," Cogswell continued.
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