HARRISBURG, Pa. — With Memorial Day weekend behind us and the summer travel season in full swing, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) unveiled the holiday weekend's total travel numbers.
They screened 2.95 million airline passengers on Friday, the highest number ever screened on a single day.
Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) saw an even larger number of travelers, as TSA reported screening around 2,700 passengers a day.
Both the TSA and HIA said this is only the beginning, as they're expecting to see an increase in overall travel this summer season.
According to Scott Miller, the spokesperson for HIA, the airport expects to see up to about 10% more travelers this year than last year.
"We have more seats for sale, combined with the region's strong demand for air travel. We expect more people to be able to choose to fly from Harrisburg versus other airports that we’ve seen in the past,” Miller stated.
Lisa Farbstein, a spokesperson for the TSA, shared this expected increase emphasizes the importance of getting to the airport early.
"If you’re traveling and there are going to be a few hundred people in front of you in line in Harrisburg, or a few thousand people additionally getting screened at other airports, just assume they’re all in front of you,” Farbstein said.
Travelers often hear the term "know before you go" when discussing air travel, and it can make a big difference in fostering a smooth experience.
TSA recommends emptying a bag before packing for a trip, making sure your carry-on items are within the 3.4 liquid ounce range and ensuring you don't have any prohibited items in your bag before entering the security checkpoint.
TSA also shared that Tuesday and Wednesday are good days to travel, as they're not as busy, and to avoid the super early or late afternoon flights if you can, as they tend to be more packed.
Officials are expecting the summer travel volume to exceed pre-pandemic levels.
