The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it is expecting millions of people to travel through airport security checkpoints during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Starting on Tuesday, July 1 and ending Monday, July 7, TSA said they expect more than 18.5 million people to hit the skies. On Sunday, June 22, TSA said its screeners check nearly 3.1 million travelers through security, the busiest single day in the agency’s history. Sunday, July 6, is expected to see nearly 3 million travelers, the highest volume during the holiday weekend.
“TSA continues to work closely with our industry partners and ensure our airport security checkpoints are fully staffed and prepared to handle the heavy rush of traffic,” TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said. “We are deploying technologies and procedures to improve security and enhance the passenger experience, including for families. We ask travelers to pack their patience, especially during peak travel days, as we work to provide maximum hospitality to our customers.”
This will be the first year requiring passengers to show their REAL IDs or other acceptable forms of IDs at the checkpoints, officials said. Since its implementation on May 7, nearly 94 percent of passengers have presented acceptable forms of identification including the REAL ID, officials said,
To make traveling with children less stressful, TSA said it had practices in place to expedite screening including allowing children under 12 to accompany their parents through TSA PreCheck lanes, if a parent is TSA PreCheck enrolled. Additionally, TSA said strollers, baby carriers, and car and booster seats are allowed through the checkpoint as long as they are screened by X-ray. Modified screening procedures are also in place to reduce the likelihood of a pat-down, officials said.