TSA screens nearly 2.8M travelers before Memorial Day holiday

96.1% percent of all passengers waited less than 20 minutes
National Press Release
Thursday, May 30, 2019

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration experienced its busiest day ever on May 24, the Friday before Memorial Day, screening a total 2,792,525 passengers and crew members. The agency screened more than 1.5 million checked bags on that day as well.

Even though TSA screened a remarkably high volume of travelers nationwide, 96.1% percent of all passengers waited less than 20 minutes in a checkpoint line and 91.5% of TSA Pre✓® passengers waited less than 5 minutes.

On an average travel day, the agency screens approximately 2.2 million passengers and crew. TSA anticipates more than 4% traveler growth this summer and expects to break screening records throughout the summer travel period. Travelers can assist by arriving prepared for the security screening process, which helps to keep the security lines moving.

 TSA’s top 10 list of busiest days of travelers screened*

Rank

Date

Passengers + Crew Screened

Circumstances

1

May 24, 2019

2,792,525

Friday before Memorial Day

2

Nov. 25, 2018

2,730,081

Sunday after Thanksgiving

3

Nov. 28, 2004

2,713,864

Sunday after Thanksgiving

4

July 20, 2018

2,676,487

Summer Friday

5

June 29, 2018

2,676,198

Friday before Fourth of July week

6

May 23, 2019

2,673,566

Thursday before Memorial Day

7

July 26, 2018

2,672,136

Summer Friday

8

June 22, 2018

2,668,474

Summer Thursday

9

July 8, 2018

2,658,707

Sunday after Fourth of July week

10

Nov. 19, 2004

2,652,347

Friday before Thanksgiving

*The numbers are current as of May 30, 2019.


TSA, like all DHS components, continues to support the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to address the humanitarian and security crisis at the southwest border. Increased traveler volume this summer may present challenges as resources continue to deploy to support the Department. We will always maintain our highest security standards, and the agency will make every effort to minimize operational impacts.

 For information about TSA procedures visit tsa.gov, and for travel tips follow TSA on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and YouTube.

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