TSA preparing for record setting holiday travel

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The Transportation Security Administration is getting ready for a busy holiday travel season.

In fact, the agency expects it to set records.

The TSA expects to screen more than 18-million people between Tuesday, November 26th. and Monday, December 2nd.

That would be an increase of six-percent from the same time last year.

The TSA expects the busiest travel days to be the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after the holiday.

The agency expects to screen more than 2.8 million people on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2.9 million for Wednesday, Nov. 27, and more than 3 million people on Sunday, Dec. 1.

“This holiday season is expected to be one of the busiest travel periods on record, and the vigilant people of the Transportation Security Administration stand ready to ensure the security and ease of travel,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Many members of the TSA workforce will be on duty throughout Thanksgiving Day and week and I am immensely grateful for their selfless dedication and professionalism. I encourage travelers to plan ahead, follow TSA’s travel tips, and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck® – simple steps that will make everyone’s journey smoother, our skies safer, and TSA’s job easier.”

TSA has screened more than 2.9 million passengers on multiple days in 2024, but the record for the heaviest passenger volume in TSA history was on Sunday, July 7, when Transportation Security Officers screened more than 3 million people at airport security checkpoints nationwide. TSA may exceed that record this Thanksgiving travel period.

“As we approach Thanksgiving, TSA is ready to accommodate record passenger volumes,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue. Working alongside our airport and airline partners and the FAA, we have optimized staffing and will do our best to maintain our wait time standards:  less than 10 minutes for TSA PreCheck lanes and less than 30 minutes for standard screening lanes. I am extremely grateful for our dedicated employees across the agency who continue to remain vigilant and focused on the mission to ensure security of our transportation systems and keep the traveling public safe.”

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