Record-Breaking Passenger Traffic Expected at U.S. Airports, TSA to Screen 3 Million on July 7
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) in Pennsylvania is experiencing unprecedented passenger traffic, indicative of a broader surge across U.S. airports since mid-May. July is set to be a record month for several airlines at PIT, with passenger numbers reaching new highs, a trend reflected nationally according to the latest reports from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
PIT has responded to the increased demand by expanding capacity through additional flights and larger aircraft. Airlines such as American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines are all set to exceed previous records for the most scheduled seats offered in a single month at the airport.
This surge aligns with TSA’s statistics, which highlight 12 of the agency’s 15 busiest days occurring since mid-May. The TSA screened a historic 2.99 million passengers on June 23 alone, and anticipates surpassing this milestone on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day, expecting to screen 3 million passengers in one day—a first in TSA history.
TSA’s daily screening numbers have risen sharply from an average of 2.5 million to 2.9 million passengers, making crowded security checkpoints a new standard. “High travel volumes and busy security checkpoints have become the norm lately,” noted the TSA.
PIT itself reported a record-setting daily total on June 24, with nearly 20,000 passengers passing through its security checkpoints, the highest since it began recording passenger throughput data in 2019.
Bart Johnson, TSA’s federal security director for 13 airports in upstate New York, reported similar trends at Rochester International Airport and other regional airports, indicating a nationwide pattern of increased travel.
To accommodate the surge, TSA advises travelers to arrive at airports two hours before their scheduled departure. PIT plans to open an alternate security checkpoint for PreCheck passengers starting July 8 to better manage the increased flow.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske confirmed the agency’s readiness to handle the boost in passenger volumes. “We expect this summer to be our busiest ever, and summer travel usually peaks over the Independence Day holiday,” Pekoske stated, underlining the combined efforts of TSA, airline, and airport partners to manage the seasonal influx.