35 Passengers Per Second: TSA Maintains Safety Standards Through Record Air Travel Numbers

The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has revealed that Sunday, July 7th, was its busiest day ever. The Department was prepared to handle the surge in passengers, with minimal disruptions reported over the weekend as strong passenger numbers continue into this week.

3 million and counting

The TSA most recently broke its daily passenger record last month. On Sunday, June 23rd, TSA broke the record for most people screened on a single day, with 2.99 million people. A number that it topped on Sunday, July 7th, the final day of the nation’s Independence Day holiday celebrations, when 3,013,413 passengers passed through security checkpoints nationwide (up 368,774 from 2023). More than 32 million people were estimated to have traveled over the holiday, a growth of 5.4% over last year’s travel volumes.

This summer has been especially busy for the organization, which had prepared extensively for the expected swell in passenger numbers. The Department announced today that the nine busiest days in TSA history have been logged this summer already, as Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted the hard work of officials nationwide to keep up with the influx of travelers:

“Yesterday, for the first time since its founding in November 2001, Transportation Security Administration officers screened more than three million travelers on a single day at airports across the country. It was an extraordinary achievement: TSA fully, unerringly, and efficiently checked 35 passengers every second, along with all their luggage and carry-on baggage, while demonstrating unwavering professionalism and respect for travelers during the intensely busy holiday weekend. Congratulations to the entire TSA workforce and Administrator David Pekoske.”

Airports and airlines across the country also broke records over the holiday period. When reached by Simple Flying for comment, a spokesperson for United Airlines confirmed the Star Alliance carrier had the busiest 4th of July weekend in its history, flying more than 520,000 people per day on average between July 3rd and 7th. Planes were also more full than typical. A representative for Breeze Airways confirmed July 7th saw Breeze’s highest load factor day for the year, with two other days during the holiday period joining the top ten.

In addition to the tireless TSA staff, airline employees also went above and beyond to ensure passengers flying over the busy period had a pleasant travel experience. Speaking exclusively to Simple Flying, a representative for Southwest Airlines highlighted the team’s professionalism during the airline’s busiest Independence Day in years:

“Our Employees delivered hospitality and a reliable operation to our loyal Customers as we had our best on-time performance during a July 4th holiday travel week in the past five years. We thank our Customers for entrusting their holiday travels to Southwest and look forward to welcoming them onboard again soon.”

Photo: J Hopwood | Shutterstock

Flights are continuing to increase as the month goes on. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shared with Simple Flying that July 11th was the second-busiest day of the year in the National Airspace System, with 53,033 flights recorded.

Patient public servants

The Transportation Security Administration was founded in the wake of the deadly September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001 and remains responsible for security checkpoints nationwide. Part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the TSA is vital in securing the nation’s transportation systems while ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce. One significant factor impacting travel this summer is the number of staff the TSA has to continue operations.

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One year ago this month, the TSA’s Transportation Security Compensation Plan went into effect for TSA employees, from uniformed officers, vetting and intelligence analysts, inspectors, Federal Air Marshals (FAMs), and canine handlers to management and administrative professionals. The move brought the agency’s pay in line with its counterparts across the federal government and contributed significantly to smooth operations this summer. In his statement, Secretary Mayorkas noted how much last year’s pay increase helped to shore up the force:

“Every day, the men and women of TSA enable millions of travelers to reach their destinations safely and securely. Yet, for decades, TSA officers received less pay for their service than their government counterparts did. One year ago, our Department, together with our partners in Congress, finally ended this injustice and secured long-overdue pay fairness. Its impact is already evident: In just the last year, TSA workforce attrition has been cut in half, recruitment rates are rising, and surveys report improved morale and job satisfaction across the agency.

“Now, with record-breaking travel spurred by our nation’s strong economy expected to continue in the months ahead, it is imperative that Congress ensure pay fairness for TSA permanently. It is the smart thing to do for everyone who depends on TSA to keep our skies and our country safe, and it is the right thing to do for these great public servants.”

Photo: Arina P Habich | Shutterstock

In addition to reduced attrition, the TSA is seeing record numbers of job applications. As of July 1st, the agency has received 328,590 applications for fiscal year 2024, compared to the previous average of less than 300,000 for the entire year.

Meanwhile, TSA officers have been incredibly busy protecting passengers from a steady stream of travelers who insist on traveling with guns in their carry-on luggage. As of July 8th, Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) nationwide have intercepted 3,435 firearms so far this year. This represents an average of 18 firearms detected per day at TSA checkpoints. According to the agency, more than 94% of them were loaded.

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