TSA warns of steady airport lines

The Transportation Security Administration said on Saturday that airports were seeing steady security lines as Memorial Day travel volumes built across the United States. The agency said it was fully staffed for the holiday stretch and had prepared to screen 18.3 million passengers and crew between Thursday, May 21, and Wednesday, May 27. AAA has forecast 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day period, a record for the holiday. Most of those travelers — 39.1 million, or about 87% — are expected to go by car, but millions are still moving through airports in a compressed five-day window. ### How busy are airports this weekend? TSA said on May 20 that it expected 18.3 million passengers and crew to pass through checkpoints nationwide between May 21 and May 27. That forecast covers the start of the summer travel season and includes the main Memorial Day departure and return days. Saturday reports from radio and local outlets said major airports were already seeing steady lines even with staffing in place. TSA said it was “staffed and ready” for the rush, while outside reports described terminals handling heavy holiday traffic rather than a single nationwide disruption. ### What is driving the surge in travelers? (tsa.gov) AAA said 45 million people would travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25. The group said that would top last year’s 44.8 million and set a new Memorial Day weekend record. The largest share of those travelers will be drivers. AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car, leaving a smaller but still substantial share to fly, take trains or buses, or use other modes. (tsa.gov) ### If TSA is fully staffed, why are lines still building? Holiday volume is the main reason. TSA’s staffing announcement addressed screening capacity, but it did not suggest airports would be free of waits during peak banks of departures. (mwg.aaa.com) With millions of passengers concentrated into a few days, even normal operations can produce longer checkpoint lines. That is an inference based on TSA’s passenger forecast and contemporaneous reports of steady lines at major airports. Airport operators have been giving the same practical message. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey advised travelers to plan for longer wait times at security checkpoints because of higher passenger volume and said domestic passengers should arrive at least two hours before departure, and international passengers at least three hours early. (tsa.gov) ### Which airports are expecting especially heavy traffic? Dallas Fort Worth International Airport said on May 19 that about 1.6 million customers were expected to travel to, through or from the airport between May 21 and May 26. The airport said that would be about 5.8% higher than a year earlier. The Port Authority said its New York-area airports were also preparing for heavier-than-usual traffic over the holiday period. (panynj.gov) Its advisory tied expected checkpoint waits to higher passenger volume and ongoing construction affecting access at some facilities. ### What should travelers watch before flying Monday? (dfwairport.com) Monday, May 25 is both the Memorial Day holiday and a key final travel day in AAA’s forecast window. That means some passengers will still be departing while others return, adding pressure to checkpoints, roads and airport curbs. TSA said the screening push runs through Wednesday, May 27, and airports have continued to direct passengers to check flight status and arrive early for security. (panynj.gov) Travelers looking for same-day conditions can find airport-specific advisories from local airport operators and carriers before heading to the terminal. (tsa.gov) (mwg.aaa.com)