The 2024 travel season is already breaking records, and the trend is set to continue through Labor Day weekend.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Earlier this month More than 17 million people are expected to be screened at airports between Aug. 29 and Sept. 4. Passenger numbers could be 8.5% higher than the same period last year, the agency said.
The TSA's top 10 busiest days for travel all occurred since May.
“More people are traveling this summer than ever before, and TSA, along with our airline and airport partners, is ready to wrap up the busiest summer travel period on record over the upcoming Labor Day weekend,” TSA Administrator David Pekoski said in a statement.
“From TSOs on the front lines at security checkpoints at airports across the country to the personnel working behind the scenes, I commend our vigilant employees who work hard to keep our transportation system safe,” he wrote, adding, “especially as we continue to roll out new checkpoint technology that improves security effectiveness, efficiency and the passenger experience.”
The busiest airports during this period are expected to be Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. According to To the travel agency Hopper.
The most searched domestic destinations on Hopper over Labor Day weekend were New York, Seattle and Los Angeles. Among international destinations, Tokyo, London and Paris ranked highly.
Delays are expected to increase by 9 percent. According to According to analytics firm INRIX, the busiest times on the roads on Labor Day, September 2, will be between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The TSA suggested the travel season was likely heading toward a tailspin after the Labor Day holiday, citing fewer than 2 million passengers passing through airport security on one day this week — the first time that had happened since early March, according to the Associated Press.
The department said earlier this year that it had conducted more than 3 million tests during post-Independence Day travel, setting a new single-day record.
