TSA predicts increase in 4th of July air travel

Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (June 29, 2024)

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The Transportation Security Administration is expecting to screen more travelers than usual for the 4th of July holiday.

Passengers are already taking to the skies to get to their destination through Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

The Transportation Security Administration expects 28 million people to fly between June 28 and July 8. That is a 5.4% increase from the same time period in 2023.

“We go to Torch Lake, we have a cabin up there,” said Kelsey Hearns, who was flying in from Florida.   

Michelle McGee was traveling to Myrtle Beach for the holiday.

“I think it’s easier leaving out earlier than a couple days before,” McGee said.

Since July 4 falls on a Thursday, many people News 8 spoke with Saturday extended their holiday.

“Just decided to take the whole week because it did land on an odd day so I couldn’t just do the weekend or anything,” McGee said.

The TSA expects the busiest travel day to be Sunday July 7, with more than 3 million passengers being screened.

Travelers like Brandan Kimble were anticipating bigger crowds on his flight to Florida, where he will take a cruise to celebrate Independence Day.

“I’m here a little earlier than I normally are when we get on, flights out of Grand Rapids, but I think it was worth it because when we were pulling in you could see the line was piling in,” Kimble said.