With 243 million travelers expected to pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints across the country from Memorial Day to Labor Day, TSA has already taken steps to increase screening capabilities and to rollout enhanced screening procedures.
TSA has increased checkpoint staff by 600 officers since the beginning of the year, and an additional 1,000 officers are expected to be hired before summer travelers peak. TSA also plans to add 50 additional passenger screening canine teams before the end of the summer.
“TSA screens over 2 million passengers on an average day throughout the year and expects to screen over 2.6 million a day during peak periods of the busy summer travel season,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “Our officers are committed to ensuring the highest level of security for the traveling public even as passenger volume increases year after year.”
With new enhanced screening procedures in place, TSA reminds passengers to check baggage for prohibited items before arriving at an airport, to use the MyTSA app to monitor wait times and plan accordingly, and to pack carry-on bags so that they can be readily screened.
TSA expects this travel season to be one of its business on record. More than 239 million travelers went through TSA checkpoints last summer and the agency record four of its top 10 busiest days on record.