The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that they screened 2.99 million air passengers last Sunday, marking the highest single-day screening record in history.
The agency stated on Monday that it expects to screen over 32 million passengers during the 2024 Independence Day travel period (from Thursday to July 8th), a 5.4% increase from 2023.
The TSA anticipates screening over 3 million people for the first time this coming Friday, which is projected to be the busiest day of the upcoming holiday period. Sunday's record broke the previous record of 2.95 million set in late May, with seven of the ten busiest days in the past month occurring during this period.
A group representing major US airlines predicts that summer travel this year will reach a new high, with airlines expected to transport 271 million passengers, a 6.3% increase from last year.
The Airlines for America association stated that US airlines plan to operate more than 26,000 flights daily this summer, nearly 1,400 more flights or a 5.6% increase from 2023, with 255 million passengers transported last year. The summer travel season is forecasted to run from June 1 to August 31.
This forecast comes as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to address a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers. Last summer, some airlines voluntarily reduced flights in New York to alleviate congestion and expressed renewed concerns over the controller shortage.
On June 5, the FAA announced that, due to the shortage of air traffic controllers, it will once again extend the deadline for reduced minimum flight requirements at busy New York City area airports until October 2025.
