Planning on booking a flight this summer? You are not alone. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the summer of 2022 could be busier than the record-setting summer of 2019.
TSA authorities estimate that at some point during the summer, over 3 million passengers could be screened in one day at various airports throughout the U.S.
That would set an all-time record for the summer travel season.
TSA administrator David Pekoske was part of a roundtable discussion with other industry leaders on Tuesday at DFW Airport. During the discussion, Pekoske shed a little light on what the industry is expecting in the coming months.
“Daily passenger volumes at TSA checkpoints show that people are traveling again, and TSA is ready for their return,” Pekoske said.
The summer travel season officially kicks off in late May, running from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend in September.
The roughly three-month season covers four federal holidays: Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
TSA said it is launching two new scanning technologies designed to provide support to the expected surge in air passengers.
Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners are intended to improve identity verification through enhanced scanning of carry-on bags and digital identity verification at the Travel Document Checker stand.
TSA officers will be able to use CT technology to view 3D images of what is inside bags, so passengers will not need to remove travel-size liquids or electronics.
TSA is also planning to dispatch more agents to high-traffic areas. This will be important for airports with staff shortages.
Travelers will also encounter higher prices when they take to the skies. According to economists at hopper.com, the average price of a domestic airline ticket will soar to over $400 this summer.
There will also be fewer seats thanks to ongoing labor shortages.
You can also expect to pay more for hotel rooms, rental cars, and other services related to travel.
