Thanksgiving 2018 was the busiest travel period in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA)17-year history.
More than 25.6 million passengers and crew members were screened, a 6 percent increase from 2017, and more than 15 million bags were checked.
The busiest travel day in TSA’s history was Sunday with more than 2.73 million travelers passing through TSA screenings. The next busiest travel date was July 20 with $2.7 million.
During a typical day, the TSA screens approximately 2.1 million passengers and crew.
The wait time in checkpoint lines averaged less than 20 minutes for 95 percent of passengers, and average TSA Pre✓ lane wait averaged less than 10 minutes for 99 percent of passengers.
“It was all hands on deck during the Thanksgiving holiday week,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. “Close coordination with airline and airport partners, new technology, enhanced screening, and more travelers enrolled in TSA Pre✓, TSA used every tool to secure air travel for the millions of passengers traveling to their holiday destinations. I thank our entire TSA team and industry partners for their work and attention to detail during a very hectic time, ensuring safe and secure travel for all passengers.”
The Thanksgiving travel period was Nov. 16 to Nov. 26.