US agency screens record 3 million airline passengers in single day

WASHINGTON: The US Transportation Security Administration said it screened 3.01 million airline passengers on Sunday, the highest number ever on a single day.

That comes after a group representing major U.S. airlines forecast record summer travel, with airlines expected to transport 271 million passengers, up 6.3% from last year.

Sunday's total topped the previous high of more than 2.99 million set on June 23 after the agency set a record in May, the TSA said Monday.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the record-breaking travel had been "spurred by our nation's strong economy expected to continue in the months ahead."

Airlines for America said U.S carriers plan to fly more than 26,000 daily flights this summer, up nearly 1,400 over 2023, or 5.6%, when they carried 255 million passengers. The summer travel season forecast is for June 1 to Aug. 31.

The buoyant estimates come as the Federal Aviation Administration is struggling to address a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers.

Some airlines voluntarily trimmed New York flights last summer to address congestion issues, and have raised new concerns about the lack of controllers.

Last month the FAA said it was again extending cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2025, citing air traffic controller staffing shortages.

The FAA said the number of controllers handling traffic in New York is insufficient for normal traffic levels and that without "increased flexibility", congestion, delays, and cancellations are likely at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.

Under minimum flight requirements, airlines can lose their takeoff and landing slots at congested airports if they do not use them at least 80% of the time. The FAA's waiver allows airlines to fly fewer flights and still retain slots.