by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:25 AM ET, Thu August 22, 2024
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced
that it expects its officers to screen more than 17 million people during what
is expected to be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record.
The Labor Day holiday travel period will run between Thursday,
August 29 and Wednesday, September 4, with the peak travel day projected to be
August 30, when TSA agents are forecasted to screen 2.86 million people.
A TSA spokesperson revealed that passenger volumes are
expected to be 8.5 percent higher than last year during this time, and has
already screened 239.8 million people since Memorial Day weekend, which is an
average of 2.7 million per day.
“People are traveling more than ever this summer and TSA
along with our airline and airport partners stand ready to close the busiest
summer travel period on record during this upcoming Labor Day weekend,” said
TSA Administrator David Pekoske.
“I commend our vigilant workforce, from our TSOs on the
front lines at airport security checkpoints across the country to those behind
the scenes, working hard to keep the transportation system secure—especially as
we continue to roll out new checkpoint technology that improves security
effectiveness, efficiency, and the passenger experience,” Pekoske continued.
The ten busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all
occurred this year since May, with the agency reaching a new milestone on July
7 when officers screened more than three
million people in a single day.
Earlier this month, the TSA announced that TSA PreCheck surpassed
20 million members, marking a new record since the trusted
traveler program was launched over a decade ago. The Department of Homeland
Security's trusted traveler programs—including U.S. Customs and Border
Protection's Global Entry program—now boast more than 40 million members.
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