Transportation officials are expecting the busiest holiday season yet
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Transportation officials are expecting the busiest holiday season yet

As travelers get ready to head out for Thanksgiving, travel officials are warning people to be patient at airports.

Both TSA and AAA expects a record number of people to disrupt airports and roads this holiday season.

The TSA expects to screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2. That’s about 6% more than this time last year.

The TSA expects the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday to be the busiest days, but it says it is ready to handle the rush.

“Passenger volumes are the highest we’ve ever seen, and fortunately, our staffing at TSA is also at the highest levels it’s ever been,” FAA Administrator David Pekoske said during a news conference Thursday. “In addition, we’ve introduced a lot of new technology to improve security efficiency, improve security efficiency and improve the customer experience. We’re ready.”

Pekoske also urged travelers to check TSA website to learn what you can and cannot bring in your hand luggage. He said you can also text AskTSA (275-872) to get your questions answered.

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In what could be his last major press conference in his role, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg praised the work of his department under the Biden-Harris administration.

“Our department stepped up and stepped in to use every power within our authority to improve service and to improve the flight experience for airline passengers,” Buttigieg said. “If you’ve been to an airport lately, you’ve also noticed some construction going on. Thanks to President Biden’s infrastructure package, we’re modernizing airports with the first-ever federal funding program for front-of-house projects.”

The administration says the bipartisan infrastructure law will invest $25 billion in airport improvements — and that some of the funds are already being used — at more than 1,500 airports nationwide.