The number of passengers that will fly during the summer season is expected to surpass more than 2.5 million people per day, the highest number in years, according to recent estimates from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
According to the TSA, the week of June 25 – July 1, 2017 set the all-time record high of 17,089,533 passengers and crew screened nationwide. The mark beats the previous record set a week prior, in which 16,598,058 passengers and crew passed through TSA checkpoints. The busiest single day of travel this summer was the Friday before Independence Day, when TSA screened 2,647,714 passengers and crew.
“As we hit the summer season, securing the travel of millions of passengers daily remains our top priority,” Acting TSA Administrator Huban A. Gowadia said. “It is well known that terrorists continue to focus on aviation, which is why TSA continues to focus on providing robust security screening.”
In 2017, TSA deployed 50 additional canine teams and 2,000 additional officers compared to the previous year in order to cope with the increased passenger traffic.
“TSA is tasked with a complex, critical security mission that can only be accomplished through close collaboration with stakeholders and partners,” Gowadia said. “We will not compromise our security mission of protecting air travelers as we face an evolving threat by a determined enemy.”
In order to ensure an efficient, safe travel experience for passengers, TSA issued a number of recommendations including applying for TSA PreCheck, placing large liquids in checked baggage, following the 3-1-1 liquids rule for carry-on baggage, and having all appropriate identification and boarding materials ready as passengers approach security checkpoints.