Aug. 24 (UPI) — The nation’s airports will see the busiest Labor Day travel period in history next weekend, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which predicts 17 million travelers will pass through its checkpoints.
The holiday travel surge, running seven days from Wednesday through Sept. 4 will peak on Aug. 30 when 2.86 million people are expected to be screened, the TSA predicted this week.
“People are traveling more than ever this summer and TSA along with our airline and airport partners stand ready to close the busiest summer travel period on record during this upcoming Labor Day weekend,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.
“I commend our vigilant workforce, from our TSOs on the front lines at airport security checkpoints across the country to those behind the scenes, working hard to keep the transportation system secure — especially as we continue to roll out new checkpoint technology that improves security effectiveness, efficiency, and the passenger experience,” he added.
The TSA is experiencing the most intense summer travel volumes in its history — some 8.5% higher than last year’s total. Since Memorial Day weekend, nearly 240 million people have passed through its checkpoints, averaging about 2.7 million per day.
The top 10 busiest travel days in the agency’s history have all occurred this summer, including the first 3-million-traveler day in history on July 7.
The airline industry credits at least some of the summer-long travel surge to historically low fares.
Airlines for America, the industry trade group, points to government data showing airfares at the start of the summer season were nearly 9% lower than the year-earlier period when adjusted for inflation. Fares have fallen more than 19% when adjusted for inflation compared to May 2019.
In a cautionary note, the TSA is reminding travelers that the high passenger volumes are coming as the REAL ID deadline approaches. On May 7, 2025, all travelers aged 18 and older must be REAL ID compliant, or present a TSA acceptable form of identification to fly within the United States.
Passengers who do not have a REAL ID compliant driver’s license by that date, or another acceptable form of ID, will not be allowed to pass through TSA checkpoints, even on domestic flights.