ATLANTA — The busiest airport in the world is gearing up for one of the busiest travel times of the year. The Transportation Security Administration said travel records are being broken from before the pandemic.
They are expecting millions of passengers to travel through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this week, kicking off summer travel.
Ahead of the big crowds, the TSA made some announcements and issued reminders. While in Atlanta, TSA Administrator David Pekoske and others said a new pre-check policy will see expanded availability for teens aged 13-17 traveling with their parents who are pre-check approved. Previously only children ages 12 and under could go through pre-check with their enrolled parents.
And as travel heads into the summer months, the TSA wants to be prepared.
In fact, between Thursday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 31, 2 million passengers are expected fly though Hartsfield-Jackson. Millions more will go through other airports around the country.
Pekoske said the nation saw 2.67 million travelers on Sunday, the most for a single day since the pandemic and 12% more than the same day last year - signs of an intense summer travel season ahead.
Mayor Dickens vowed that, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest, "We are ready."
There are some tips available for travelers to keep in mind before heading to the airport:
- Get to the airport two hours early
- Have a parking plan
- Travel on less busy days (this week, that would be any day besides Thursday Friday and Monday)
- Have your ID ready
- Remove contraband items before you get in line
So far, officials said more than 2,400 guns have been intercepted this year by the TSA nationwide. Every time that happens, the line slows down. Anyone traveling and realize they have a firearm, TSA said the best two options are to pack it in a checked baggage if the traveler has the proper case. Otherwise, call someone to pick it up.
Travelers who have questions can contact TSA.
While the TSA is working to get travelers through the airport efficiently, they need employees to do so. To help recruit more staff and keep the ones they have, Pekoske said TSA workers are getting a pay raise come July.
“We’re already seeing roughly half the attrition rate that we typically see, that’s good news, Pekoske said. "Means we need to recruit fewer people and the average age of experience in our checkpoint is higher."
Across the country, the TSA is 6% understaffed, but the agency is 2.1% above goal staffing numbers in Atlanta. Those strong numbers give Atlanta's TSA staff a chance to volunteer to go work at other airports as part of the National Deployment Force.