(NEWSnet) – Be prepared for crowds in the airport terminals and within pickup lanes if you have booked flights for Memorial Day weekend or later in the summer season.

The Transportation Security Administration said in an announcement that it expects to screen more than 18 million passengers and crew for the time frame from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. That’s an increase of 6.4% as compared to the same season in 2023; and will be the highest summer passenger volumes the TSA has ever worked with.

“In close coordination with airport, airline and travel partners, we are more than ready to handle this summer’s increased travel volumes,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

 

The summer day-to-day travel surges, as forecast by the Federal Aviation Administration, call for Memorial Day weekend to be the busiest in air travel since 2010 with 53,515 flights expected Thursday and 50,129 flights expected Friday.

While those numbers are high, June 30, the Sunday before the July 4 holiday, is likely to be even busier with 53,785 flights.

To help keep passenger lines moving, the TSA recommends the following:

  • Start packing with an empty bag, to limit the possibility of prohibited items forgotten about.
  • Be aware that new checkpoint cameras are in place in some airports; they are intended to help verify your identity.
  • Bring a valid ID; in most cases that will be a state-issued ID or driver’s license that has the REAL ID verification feature.

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