ATLANTA, GEORGIA – The Transportation Security Administration set a new record on Friday by screening over 2.95 million airline passengers in a single day, surpassing the previous record set last year. This milestone was achieved ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, which traditionally marks the beginning of the summer travel season.

TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein congratulated travelers who flew on Friday for being part of this record-setting day. The agency had predicted that Friday would be the busiest day for air travel, with nearly 3 million people expected to pass through airport checkpoints.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) also warned of potential unprecedented congestion on roads during the Memorial Day weekend, with airports expected to be even more crowded than in previous years. AAA estimated that 43.8 million people across the United States would likely travel at least 50 miles from Thursday to Monday, marking a 4% increase in overall travel compared to the previous year.

“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA’s travel division. The increase in travel signals a busy summer travel season ahead, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

The TSA has been experiencing high travel volumes recently, with five of the 10 busiest travel days since May 16. This surge in travel comes as COVID-19 restrictions ease and more people feel comfortable flying and driving to their destinations.

Overall, the record-setting day for TSA screenings reflects the pent-up demand for travel as people seek to reunite with loved ones, explore new destinations, and enjoy the summer season. As travel numbers continue to rise, airports and highways are expected to remain busy throughout the summer months.