WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is preparing to screen a record number of people in the near future, according to a release issued on Wednesday.
TSA is gearing up for what it projects to be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record. From Thursday, Aug. 29 through Wednesday, Sept. 4, more than 17 million travelers in the United States are expected to be screened.
As the time period approaches, Friday, Aug. 30 is projected to be the peak travel day. TSA is expecting to screen approximately 2.86 million people that day, the release says.
This summer, air travel volumes have been the highest that the administration has ever seen. Over the Labor Day travel period, TSA believes passenger volumes will be 8.5% higher than last year at this time.
According to the release, TSA has already screened around 239.8 million people nationwide since Memorial Day weekend, which equates to an average of 2.7 million people per day. The top 10 busiest travel days in TSA history have all happened since this May.
TSA said it reached a new milestone on July 7, as Transportation Security Officers 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 stand ready to close the busiest summer travel period on record during this upcoming Labor Day weekend,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in the release.
Pekoske added that he commends TSA's vigilant workforce, ranging from the Transportation Security Officers on the front lines at airport security checkpoints throughout the United States to those behind the scenes, working to keep the transportation system secure.
In the release, Pekoske stressed the importance of maintaining a high standard, “Especially as we continue to roll out new checkpoint technology that improves security effectiveness, efficiency and the passenger experience.”
TSA noted in the release that it is staffed to meet its wait time standards, which are 10 minutes and under in TSA PreCheck and 30 minutes and under in standard screening lanes. As travel volumes increase, TSA encourages airline passengers to travel with ease by enrolling in the TSA PreCheck Trusted Traveler Program, where members aren’t required to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, food items and light jackets at the checkpoint.
The release reminds TSA PreCheck members to make sure their Known Traveler Number is in their airline reservation, so it appears on their boarding pass.
Additionally, starting on May 7, 2025, REAL ID goes into effect. TSA said that airline passengers will need a REAL ID-compliant form of identification when flying beginning on that date.
If a traveler’s driver’s license is not REAL ID-complaint, they must have another form of acceptable identification such as a U.S. passport. The release said REAL ID driver’s licenses and identification cards have a small star in the upper right corner indicating they meet federal regulations that establish minimum security standards.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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