This Labor Day holiday travel period was the busiest on record, with nearly 10.4 million passengers screened at airport checkpoints nationwide between Friday and Monday, said the Transportation Security Administration. The figure marks a 3.3% increase compared with the same four-day stretch in 2024.
Friday, August 29, stood out as one of the heaviest travel days in the agency’s 24-year history, with 2,971,217 passengers processed. It was the highest-ever volume for a Friday before Labor Day and ranked as the 15th busiest day overall. TSA data shows that eight of the ten busiest days on record have occurred since late May, underscoring the surge in demand for air travel this year.
“As air travel continues to reach record high trajectories, TSA is fully prepared to meet the growing demand by maintaining a close partnership with our aviation industry partners,” said TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl. He credited Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with spearheading “a summer of remarkable change” for the agency, highlighting efforts to streamline security while enhancing the passenger experience.
Among the new initiatives rolled out this summer, passengers at domestic airports no longer need to remove footwear at checkpoints.
The “Families on the Fly” initiative, launched in July, created dedicated screening areas for families and expanded TSA PreCheck benefits to include discounts for relatives and expedited lanes for service members traveling with children.
The agency also reiterated travel tips for returning passengers, including packing bags in compliance with TSA rules, carrying valid identification such as a REAL ID or passport, and enrolling in TSA PreCheck for expedited screening. Children 17 and under may use PreCheck lanes when traveling with an enrolled adult.
With demand showing no signs of slowing, TSA officials say 2025 is on track to set a new all-time annual passenger volume record.
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