TSA Sets New Record with Nearly 3 Million Security Checks in a Single Day

On Friday, May 24, 2024, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) achieved a milestone by screening a record 2.95 million passengers in a single day, surpassing the previous record of 2.91 million set during Thanksgiving last year. This surge in travel marks the beginning of a potentially busy summer season, with five of the ten busiest travel days in the US occurring since May 16, 2024.

Almost 4 Million Passengers Flew with American Airlines

American Airlines emerged as the busiest carrier over the Memorial Day travel period, transporting 3.9 million passengers on 36,000 flights, a 10% increase from the same period last year. As the world's largest airline by passenger numbers, American Airlines facilitated travel through its ten hubs, including major airports like Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), and Dallas (DFW).

United Airlines also experienced a 10% increase in passengers compared to last year, with 3 million people flying over the Memorial Day weekend. Delta Air Lines planned to carry nearly 3 million passengers, marking a 5% increase from the previous year.

A Busy Summer Ahead

Memorial Day weekend traditionally signals the start of the peak summer travel season in the US. Airlines for America projects that carriers will transport 271 million passengers from now until the end of August, a 5.6% increase from last year's 255 million. This equates to around 26,000 flights per day, an increase of 1,400 daily flights from 2023.

To manage this surge, airlines and regulatory bodies have undertaken extensive planning. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues its recruitment and training efforts to ensure a sufficient number of air traffic controllers, particularly in congested areas like New York City. Airlines such as JetBlue have voluntarily reduced flight schedules at major airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to mitigate congestion.

Despite these reductions, JetBlue successfully launched a new international route from JFK to Edinburgh (EDI) last week, becoming the fourth airline to offer transatlantic services from the Scottish airport. This new route complements JetBlue's existing flights to European destinations, including Amsterdam (AMS), London Heathrow (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW), and Paris (CDG).

As the summer travel season progresses, the increased passenger numbers underscore the importance of efficient airport operations and robust planning by airlines and regulatory bodies to accommodate the growing demand.