TSA officers at Albany airport prepare for anticipated travel peak

ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported its 10 busiest travel days on record this summer in airports across the nation, and that trend is expected to continue through the Labor Day holiday and beyond.

From Thursday, Aug. 29 through Wednesday, Sept. 4, a TSA spokesperson said they were preparing to screen more than 17 million travelers during what was expected to be the busiest Labor Day travel period on record.

“People are traveling more than ever this summer, and TSA, along with our airline and airport partners, stand ready to close the busiest summer travel period on record during this upcoming Labor Day weekend,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a release. “I comment our vigilant workforce, from our TSOs [Transportation Security Officers] on the front lines at airport security checkpoints across the country, to those behind the scenes, working hard to keep the transportation system secure – especially as we continue to roll out new checkpoint technology that improves security effectiveness, efficiency and the passenger experience.”

Albany, state health departments investigate legionella outbreak at senior living facility

Specifically in the Capital Region, a federal security director with TSA, responsible for operations in upstate New York airports, said that Albany International Airport’s screening numbers have increased 110% from 2019.

“We’re very fortunate with the relationship that we have with the airport, and they have ambassadors queuing up, letting them know where to go,” Bart Johnson told CBS6. “Another thing is, we’re fully staffed. We know what’s going to be coming at us, and like you just said, it is really busy in the morning. But, having said that, our wait times are very manageable.”

Even still, Johnson said that travelers should plan to arrive at the airport two hours before their scheduled domestic flight.

Lines for the security checkpoint at Albany International have grown longer than in the past, particularly in the mornings. TSA officers at the airport have not only been dealing with higher passenger volume, but also construction.

Gas Prices for Labor Day at lowest levels in 3 years

“It’s computed tomography, they call it, and the algorithms, the detection capabilities, it’s quite amazing, and they are literally x-ray technicians,” Johnson said of the officers and the technology they use. “They are focused on one thing, and that’s watching the images coming through the display and determining and discerning which ones are a threat and which ones are not, and once it’s determined to be a potential threat, they have to resolve that threat.”

To help expedite the security screening process, Johnson said that travelers should visit TSA’s website to see what they can and cannot bring with them for air travel. He also reminded travelers to start with an empty suitcase – so they’re not accidentally bringing something that cannot go through the security checkpoint – and of the 3-1-1 rule.

“Liquids, gels, and aerosols, don’t pack anything larger than 3.4 ounces in a single quart container, one per passenger,” Johnson said. “People come in with oversized liquids all the time, and it has to be detected, the bag needs to be searched. We don’t know what it is. It disrupts the pace of the checkpoint and jams things up.”

Expanding accessibility on state lands: DEC launches pilot program

According to a release from TSA, the agency expects passenger volumes to be 8.5 percent higher than last year during this Labor Day travel period, and has already screened 239.8 million travelers since Memorial Day weekend – an average of 2.7 million people per day.

“We’re ready and we’re prepared, and we just need to make sure that the traveler is ready and prepared also, and do your part,” Johnson said. “Understand why the officers are doing what they’re doing, and they’re [there] to keep you safe. It’s still very dangerous out there. There’s a lot going on in the world. There’s a lot going on in the country, and we need to be aware of our surroundings and be aware that there’s still people out there that will maybe try to do us harm.”

Addressing ongoing construction at Albany International Airport, Johnson said that TSA is anticipating the work to conclude around this time next year. Officials said the goal of construction has been to expand security and concessions areas, but Johnson said there were no plans to add another security checkpoint or additional lanes at the current checkpoint.

“This checkpoint was built before September 11, and I remember that day like it was yesterday, and all the security and the equipment overwhelms the size of the checkpoint that was built before September 11 in 2001,” he said. “Working with the airport, they designed a checkpoint that’s going to allow for more divestiture area, and also recomposing area before and after the x-ray, and it’s also going to open it up laterally.”