Record-Breaking Day for U.S. Air Travel as TSA Screens Nearly 3 Million Passengers
The United States has achieved a new milestone in air travel, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening a record 2.99 million passengers in a single day.
This remarkable feat occurred on Sunday, surpassing the previous record set in May, the TSA announced on Monday.
Looking ahead, the TSA anticipates that the number of air travellers will exceed 3 million on Friday, as many Americans embark on their journeys in anticipation of Independence Day on July 4.
The agency expects to screen over 32 million people between Thursday and Monday, marking an increase of more than 5 percent compared to the same period last year.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske expressed confidence in the agency’s preparedness for the summer travel surge. “We expect this summer to be our busiest ever, and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday,” Pekoske said in a statement.
Pekoske highlighted improvements in the TSA’s operational capabilities, noting, “Compared to last year, we have cut our attrition rates by almost half and increased our recruiting as a result of the TSA Compensation Plan that was funded in the budget passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden.”
The uptick in travel is a positive indicator of economic health, according to Pekoske. “The traveling public is on the move, which is a sign of a healthy economy. We are ready, along with our airline and airport partners, to handle this boost in passenger volumes,” he said.
This year has witnessed the TSA recording seven of the ten busiest days in its history, underscoring the robust rebound of air travel from the COVID-19 pandemic.
