Labor Day weekend to continue trend amid record-breaking travel season

The 2024 travel season has already broken records, and Labor Day weekend will only continue that trend.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said earlier this month that it’s expected to screen more than 17 million people at airports from Aug. 29 through Sept. 4. Passenger volumes, per the agency, could be 8.5 percent higher than the same period last year.

The top 10 busiest travel days for the TSA have all taken place since May.

“People are traveling more than ever this summer and TSA along with our airline and airport partners stand ready to close the busiest summer travel period on record during this upcoming Labor Day weekend,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. 

“I commend our vigilant workforce, from our TSOs on the front lines at airport security checkpoints across the country to those behind the scenes, working hard to keep the transportation system secure,” he wrote, adding, “especially as we continue to roll out new checkpoint technology that improves security effectiveness, efficiency, and the passenger experience.” 

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport are expected to be the busiest airports during this period, according to Hopper, a travel company.

Most searched domestic destinations for Labor Day weekend on Hopper were New York City, Seattle and Los Angeles. Tokyo, London and Paris lead the way with international destinations.

Delays are expected to increase by 9 percent, according to analytics company INRIX. The busiest time on the roads on Labor Day, Sept. 2, will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., per the company.

The TSA suggested that the travel season is likely to wind down after Labor Day holiday, citing one day this week when less than 2 million passengers passed through the airport security checkpoints. This is the first time that has happened since early March, The Associated Press reported.

The agency said earlier this year that it screened over 3 million people during the post-Fourth of July travel, breaking the record for the highest number in one day.