The Transportation Security Administration reported that a new record was set ahead of the Memorial Day weekend for the number of travelers screened at U.S. airports. On Friday, over 2.9 million travelers went through airport security, surpassing the previous record set on the Sunday after Thanksgiving last year.
The TSA tweeted about this milestone, noting, “Officers have set a new record for most travelers screened in a single day! We recommend arriving early.”
Thursday also marked a busy day with nearly 2.9 million travelers screened across U.S. airports. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, known as the world’s busiest, experienced its busiest day ever on Thursday with 111,000 passengers, airline crew, and airport employees screened. Friday followed closely with 109,960 screenings.
Travelers at the airport (Via Austin Black/Shutterstock)
Last year, Atlanta Airport topped global rankings with 104.6 million passengers, according to Airports Council International. U.S. airlines are gearing up for a summer of record passenger numbers, estimating 271 million travelers between June 1 and August 31, surpassing last summer’s record of 255 million.
AAA forecasts this Memorial Day weekend to be the busiest start of summer in nearly 20 years, expecting 43.8 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday, with 38 million traveling by car.
This surge in travel coincides with concerns among Americans about the economy and the country’s direction, as reflected in recent polls.
Memorial Day, originally observed on May 30 to honor fallen soldiers, became a federal holiday in 1971, now observed on the last Monday in May each year.
