The TSA screened a record number of travelers over Memorial Day weekend.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — With Memorial Day weekend over and the summer travel season in full swing, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has released travel totals for the holiday weekend.
A total of 2.95 million air passengers were tested on Friday, the most tests ever conducted in a single day.
Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) saw even more travelers, with the TSA reporting it was screening about 2,700 passengers per day.
Both the TSA and HIA said this is just the beginning and that they expect overall travel to increase this summer.
HIA spokesman Scott Miller said the airport expects travel numbers to be up to about 10% higher this year than last.
“We have more seats available for sale, coupled with strong demand for air travel in the region. We expect to see more people using Harrisburg Airport than other airports we've seen in the past,” Miller said.
TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said the expected increase underscores the importance of arriving at the airport early.
“When you're traveling, if there are hundreds of people ahead of you in line in Harrisburg and thousands more being screened at other airports, assume they're all in front of you in line,” Farbstein said.
Travelers often hear the phrase “know before you fly” when talking about air travel, but it can make a big difference in facilitating a smooth experience.
The TSA recommends emptying your bag before preparing to travel, making sure your carry-on luggage is within the 3.4 fluid ounce limit, and making sure there are no prohibited items in your bag before going through security.
The TSA also said that Tuesday and Wednesday are good days to travel as they are less busy, and that it is best to avoid early morning and late afternoon flights, which tend to be busiest.
Officials expect summer travel volumes to exceed pre-pandemic levels.
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