ATLANTA — The world's busiest airport keeps setting records during one of the busiest travel seasons, and this Fourth of July weekend is no exception.
"It's been really busy," said Kevin Ramer. "We had a full flight and it's been shoulder to shoulder pretty much since we got off the plane."
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport recorded at least five days this summer where it expected the daily passenger volume to exceed 99,000. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it's expecting a rush of passengers nationwide that could lead to new records this weekend.
"The trains are packed today — packed like crazy," said Dujuan Free, who travels through Atlanta frequently. "It's been very crowded... but Hartsfield's a crowded airport."
A TSA spokesperson said they screened 78,000 people on the Fourth of July, noting that fewer people tend to fly on the actual holiday. They expected passenger volume to pick up over the weekend.
"That's always been my wish — to visit Atlanta," said Edna, who was visiting from Brazil. "I remember Atlanta some years ago... you guys had the Olympics."
She travels to the United States every year. Atlanta felt like the perfect choice for 2024, with just a few weeks until the Paris Olympics.
The busiest times at the Atlanta airport's security checkpoints are typically between 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. when departing travelers can expect to encounter large numbers of travelers departing the airport, according to the TSA.
The TSA said the next wave of high travel volumes starts around 3 p.m. and continues into the evening.