TSA predicts record travel numbers ahead of July 4th holiday

ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) — A week ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, officials are expecting record numbers of travelers.  

The TSA expects to screen more than 32 million flyers between Thursday and next weekend. Travel is expected to peak Friday, with the TSA predicting it’ll screen more than three million people.

That number would surpass a record set last Sunday for the most people ever screened in a day, at just under three million.

“It’s never enough traveling,” said Ramon Rodriguez, who was flying home to Florida from D.C. Thursday.

Rodriquez, who is a frequent flyer, has TSA pre-check. Still, he’s glad to not be traveling during Friday’s peak. 

“Oh, my God,” he said, when hearing the travel predictions.

TSA is also predicting this summer to be the busiest summer in the air yet, with people taking vacations, going to camp and attending sporting events.

“We’re traveling to Canton, Ohio for a football tournament,” said Braylon Morris, who was flying from DCA with his family Thursday. “We’re just getting to the airport now from the shuttle, but the traffic was bad.”

Travelers are advised to arrive at the airport early, reserve parking online ahead of time and prepare for the unexpected.

Flyer Carey Wentworth understands that firsthand.

“We unfortunately were caught in the rainstorm last night with flights cancelled, but the American Airlines took very good care of us, put us up in a hotel. We had a very good experience,” she said. “We’re happy to be heading home.”