NEWS: Huge Crowds Broke RECORDS, Making Yesterday the Busiest Day EVER for Air Travel

If you were at the airport this weekend and thought it seemed extra busy, you were definitely correct. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) just confirmed that yesterday, November 26th, saw RECORD-BREAKING crowds for air travel.

Orlando International Airport is VERY busy

The huge crowds of travelers trying to get home after the holiday may have encountered some issues as thousands of delays and cancelations affected U.S. airports.

The TSA posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the administration screened over 2.9 MILLION travelers at airports throughout the United States, which is an agency record. November 26th was officially the busiest day EVER for air travel since the TSA’s inception in 2001.

BREAKING NEWS: Yesterday (Nov. 26), TSA screened just over 2.9M individuals at airports nationwide, which represents an agency record – the busiest day ever for air travel.

As #HolidayTravel season continues, we remind passengers to please arrive at the airport early.

— TSA (@TSA) November 27, 2023

The Thanksgiving travel period officially began on Friday, November 17th, and runs through Tuesday, November 28th, so there may still be big crowds at the airport today and tomorrow.

Crowds

Before the holiday travel began, the TSA predicted it would screen 30 million travelers at U.S. airports between November 17th and the 28th. TSA Federal Security Director Greg Hawko said, “TSA has been preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday travel period for the past several months. We have worked closely with the airlines and airport to ensure that we have a comprehensive staffing and operational plan that ensures we will be ready for the increase in departing passengers” (TSA).

Orlando International Airport Check-in

With the heavy traffic came some cancelations and delays. According to FlightAware, there were 7,939 delays of flights into or out of the U.S. on November 26th and 55 cancelations.

Airplane

The TSA reminded travelers to prepare for their trips and plan to be at the airport early if they’re flying during the holidays. They also shared some tips to help passengers get through security faster:

“Unpack your bag before you pack it: To avoid bringing prohibited items in carry-on luggage, start with an empty bag or suitcase.” If you’ve been vacationing or visiting family, it’s easy to keep throwing things into your suitcase and then just zip it up quickly on your way home. However, make sure you double-check the contents before you close that bag!
“Make sure your Known Traveler Number (KTN) and correct date of birth are in your airline reservation so you will be eligible for TSA PreCheck screening.” Remember that “children 12 and under can use the TSA PreCheck lane when traveling with an eligible parent or guardian on the same itinerary.” Also, “this holiday season, teenagers ages 13-17 can accompany TSA PreCheck-enrolled parents or guardians through TSA PreCheck screening when traveling on the same reservation and when the TSA PreCheck indicator appears on the teen’s boarding pass.”
“Make a plan for traveling with holiday foods. Most foods can be carried through the TSA checkpoint, but there are some items that will need to be transported in checked baggage.”
- “If it’s a solid item, then it can go through a checkpoint in a carry-on. However, if you can spread it, spill it, pump it or pour it – and it’s larger than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) – then it should travel in a checked bag.”
- “Food items often need some additional security screening, so TSA recommends placing those items in a clear plastic bag or other container when packing them at home and then removing those items from your carry-on bag and placing them in a bin for screening at the checkpoint.”
“Plan ahead to request passenger support. Travelers or families of passengers who need assistance may call the TSA Cares helpline toll-free at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours prior to travel with any questions about screening procedures and to find out what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares also arranges assistance at the checkpoint for travelers with specific needs.”
“Plan to arrive at the airport early and prepare for every step of the travel process. There is no substitute for packing your patience and arriving early.”