The Transportation Security Administration reports an estimated 246 million people flying from June 1 to Aug. 31. Roughly two million passengers are screened every day.
Today could top 2.6 million flyers.
TSA’s Carrie Harmon said now through July 9th, they expect a heavy Fourth of July travel season
“We’re expecting an extremely busy Fourth of July travel season. We’re even anticipating that today could be the busiest day ever at airports across the country,” said Harmon.
She said since July fourth falls in the middle of the week, they're expecting more people to take the entire week to travel.
If you haven’t flown since last summer, check new security regulations—including electronics and powders.
“We started last summer asking them to take out electronics that are larger than a cell phone. And, if you have powders over 12 ounces, which is about the size of what would fit in a soda can, we advise that you put that in your checked bag,” said Harmon.
Starting tomorrow, TSA will tighten standards for screening powders internationally. This has already been applied to domestic flights for months now.
Just yesterday, United Airlines and the TSA showed how to use the new Automated Screening Lanes (ASLs) that have been installed at Terminal E, United’s international terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The new ASLs helps make the screening process more efficient by using automation technology and features such as:
· Unique Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags attached to each bin that allows for additional accountability of items throughout the system. The new bins are 25 percent larger.
· Cameras that take a photo of the outside of the bag, which is attached to the X-ray image of the bags contents.
· Bags with potential threats can be pulled to a separate area to allow bins behind it to continue through the system.
· “Scan guns” at secondary screening tables that allow officers to scan RFID tags on the bins to quickly pull up images of the bags to expedite the screening process
Harmon recommended being inside the airport two hours in advance and prepared to be screened.