United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
TSA screens pandemic record number of travelers
The TSA notched a new pandemic record on the day before Christmas Eve for the highest number of travelers screened.
Nearly 1.2 million passed through security checkpoints, surpassing the previous high of 1.1 million the Sunday following Thanksgiving.
It is the most of any day since 16 March.
Unsurprisingly, Christmas Day was significantly quieter with 616,000 travelers flying.
Still, it marks an average of nearly one million daily travelers over the past seven days
While numbers are at their highest for months, it is still about 60% less than pre-pandemic air traffic.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has continually urged Americans to stay home to avoid spreading the virus and creating another spike in infections like just after Thanksgiving.
"We need to try to stop this exponential increase and so we’re really asking the American public to prevent these infections and avoid travel," Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s Covid-19 incident manager, said before the holiday.
The TSA is expecting Sunday to the busiest day yet as travelers head home after the holiday.
"If you choose to travel this holiday, please wear a mask," TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said in a tweet announcing the screening numbers.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations