May 27th 2024.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, a new record was set for the number of travelers screened at U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). On Friday alone, over 2.9 million travelers were screened, surpassing last year's record from the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The TSA shared their excitement on social media, tweeting that their officers had set a new record and advising travelers to arrive early.
Thursday also saw a high number of travelers, with just under 2.9 million screened at U.S. airports, making it the third busiest day on record. In Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world, a traffic record was broken on Thursday with 111,000 passengers, airline crew, and airport employees being screened at security checkpoints. The following day, Friday, saw the second busiest day with 109,960 people being screened, according to the TSA. Last year, the Atlanta airport saw a staggering 104.6 million passengers, solidifying its position as the busiest airport in the world, according to Airports Council International.
This summer, U.S. airlines are expecting to carry a record number of passengers, with an estimated 271 million travelers flying between June 1 and August 31. This would surpass last summer's record of 255 million passengers. Additionally, AAA predicts that this will be the busiest start-of-summer weekend in almost 20 years, with 43.8 million people expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday. Of those, 38 million will be traveling by vehicle.
Despite concerns about the economy and the country's direction, the annual urge to travel during the summer season remains strong among Americans. Memorial Day, which was traditionally observed on May 30 to honor fallen soldiers, became an official federal holiday in 1971 and is now observed on the last Monday in May. Many use this time to remember and honor those who have given their lives in service.
Jason Redman, a retired Navy SEAL who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, shared with The Associated Press last year that he honors the friends he has lost. He has 30 names tattooed on his arm, representing each of the men he personally knew who died. As Americans prepare for summer travel, let us also take a moment to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
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