WASHINGTON — As summer kicks off, a surge of travelers is flooding airports, reaching an unprecedented milestone. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) revealed on Tuesday that it experienced its busiest day to date.

On Sunday, June 22, TSA personnel processed security screenings for 3,096,293 travelers nationwide, slightly topping the previous peak of 3,088,836 passengers set on the Sunday following Thanksgiving in 2024.

This record-breaking event happens just as TSA gears up for the forthcoming Fourth of July holiday, which is predicted to bring an additional 18.5 million travelers to airports nationwide.

Sunday’s record continues a pattern of rising travel demand. Last year, the TSA documented multiple days where over 2.9 million passengers were screened and twice that broke the 3 million mark. 

“The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue,” former TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a 2024 statement. 

The TSA said it is working with airport, airline and FAA partners to ensure operations run smoothly. 

“TSA continues to work closely with our industry partners and ensure our airport security checkpoints are fully staffed and prepared to handle the heavy rush of traffic,” TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said. 

“We are deploying technologies and procedures to improve security and enhance the passenger experience, including for families. We ask travelers to pack their patience, especially during peak travel days, as we work to provide maximum hospitality to our customers.” McNeill added.

Previous spikes in post-holiday traffic led to widespread delays and missed flights at major airports like Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International and Chicago O’Hare. 

With another major holiday approaching, officials are urging travelers to plan ahead, pack smart and take advantage of programs like TSA PreCheck. 

Passengers should ensure they’re following the 3.4-ounce limit for liquids in carry-on bags and check TSA.gov or @AskTSA on social media with any questions about what items are allowed through security.

Travelers are also reminded to enroll or double-check their TSA PreCheck status, and ensure they have their REAL IDs or other acceptable IDs, to help speed up screening.