The Transportation Security
Administration is confident it has prepared its workforce and
airport operations to ensure the highest levels of security and customer
service for travelers this busy summer travel season in the U.S. Officials from TSA, airports and major airlines anticipate 200 million
air travelers nationwide during the peak summer travel period between the
Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. TSA is prepared for the summer travel
season and is working with aviation industry partners to ensure passengers
have a positive travel experience.
  “This will be one of the busiest travel seasons on record and TSA will
be ready,” said Kip Hawley, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for
TSA. “Our team has been preparing for the summer and our Security Officers
look forward to adding a friendly but serious level of security for summer
travelers.”
  Passenger preparedness for the security process has a significant
impact at the checkpoint. TSA Security Officers intercept more than 1.2
million prohibited items each month, including approximately 30,000
lighters a day, the volume of which results in delays for every passenger
at the security checkpoint. Eighty percent of prohibited items surrendered
at security checkpoints are lighters.
  “Summer travel is a team sport, involving TSA, airlines, airports and
passengers,” said Hawley. “Working together, we will anticipate peak
traffic and be ready for the traveling public. Travelers can save time by
leaving prohibited items such as lighters at home.”
  Despite increased summer air travel, peak wait times at the busiest
airports in the country generally remain consistent during summer months.
TSA’s mission is security, and the agency intends to maintain reasonable
wait times without compromising security. TSA is aggressively staffing for
the summer travel season and transitioning from centralized to local hiring
to give airports more flexibility to prepare for summer travel volumes.
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