SALT LAKE CITY - Officials with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) are anticipating that Monday, Feb. 20 will likely be the busiest day on record for operation at SLC. High passenger volumes that day are being driven by the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Feb. 19 and the holiday weekend that will bring a large number of outdoor recreation enthusiasts to the area.
TSA has been working closely with airport officials to prepare for the expected surge in the number of travelers who will be departing SLC throughout the day Monday. The goal is to ensure that every step of the travel process goes smoothly and efficiently for all travelers.
“The Salt Lake Airport team is thrilled to be the first stop for the thousands of passengers coming to ski or attend the NBA All-Star Game this Presidents’ Day weekend,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director, Salt Lake City Department of Airports. “Our team has been planning for months in preparation for the next few days and we look forward to providing our airport visitors with an All-Star experience.”
“Current projections show that more than 40,000 travelers will be departing SLC on Monday. This is a 40% increase over usual travel volumes this time of year,” said Matt Davis, TSA federal security director for Utah. “Because every traveler and their belongings must be screened by TSA, we have supplemented our local workforce and added security assets to ensure we are prepared to deliver an efficient and effective screening experience. We look forward to showcasing our operation and celebrating with the community as we celebrate all that SLC and Utah have to offer.”
In addition to our local TSA workforce, TSA has arranged to have 40 TSA officers on-site from 10 different airports across the country working at SLC. This additional staffing support will ensure that all screening lanes are open during high-volume travel periods. Checkpoint operations are expected to be extremely busy staring Monday morning at 5 a.m. The number of passengers departing the airport will remain high through 4 p.m.
Travelers can also expect to see explosive detection canines and handlers working in and around the security checkpoint, adding an additional layer of security at the airport. Some of the canines work regularly at SLC while others have come from other airports. TSA-trained canines paired with law enforcement handlers are also supporting security operations at key venues in Salt Lake City during the All-Star Game festivities.
At the airport, TSA’s use of explosive detection canines significantly enhances the efficiency of the security screening process, serving as an added layer of security. Away from the airport, the dogs can work in a variety of locations and use their keen sense of smell to augment existing security efforts.
For travelers who have NBA All-Star Game souvenir programs, TSA advises that those should travel in carry-on luggage. Placing programs in checked bags may cause the security screening equipment to unnecessarily alarm and potentially cause delays in checked baggage operations.
With the number of people expected to travel on Monday, TSA is advising all travelers to plan ahead and be prepared. Please be aware of the contents of carry-on luggage to avoid bringing prohibited items to the security checkpoint. In addition, ensure that liquids in carry-on luggage are in quantities of 3.4 ounces / 100 ml or less. Any liquids over this quantity should be placed in checked luggage.
TSA recommends travelers download the myTSA app, a trusted source for travel information. It provides travelers with 24-hour access to the most frequently asked questions. It also features a searchable “Can I Bring” database where you can type in the name of an item and learn whether it can travel in a carry-on bag or if it needs to be checked. The app is available from the App Store or Google Play. Travelers can also Tweet or Message AskTSA to get answers to their questions. Live assistance is available daily including weekends and holidays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST.