TSA: ‘We Are Staffed and Prepared for the Holiday Travelers’

The Transportation Security Administration expects a large volume of travelers this coming Thanksgiving as vaccination rates improved in the US. TSA is ready to handle around 20 million holiday travelers according to officials on Wednesday. Compared to last year, the agency screened around 9.5 million air travelers during the ten days surrounding Thanksgiving. And in 2019, TSA screened 26 million air travelers.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske said that “We are staffed and prepared for the holiday travelers”.

Pekoske said that “I recommend that travelers pay attention to the guidance that the TSA officers are providing”. He added that “They may be directing you to a shorter line or guiding you around someone who is moving slowly, and they may be giving you some advice that will lessen the likelihood you’ll need a pat-down”.

What Can Holiday Travelers Expect This Thanksgiving?

TSA announced that Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving are usually the busiest days. However, Sunday after Thanksgiving will also have a large influx of travelers. Even if the number of air travelers won’t  surpass 2019 levels, the agency still anticipates that it could be higher days before Thanksgiving.

While there is an uptick in air travelers, airlines are also dealing with thousands of cases of unruly passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration recorded more than 5,100 cases for this year alone. The Association of Flight Attendants union considers the political tension over health protocols to agitate air passengers.

Pekoske in an interview with CBS Mornings said that he never recalled ever seeing such number of unruly passengres. Pekoske said that “We’re working very closely with the carriers, the flight attendants, the flight deck crews, the air force, and the FAA”.

Aside from crowded airports, you can also expect clogged roads. Paula Twidale, AAA Travel’s senior vice president said in a statement that “This Thanksgiving, travel will look a lot different than last year”. AAA expects 48.3 million people to travel by car for this year’s thanksgiving.