TSA outlines summer travel season preparedness

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials have indicated the agency is prepared to screen high volumes of passengers at nationwide airport security checkpoints this summer travel season.

"TSA is ready to handle this summer's anticipated increase in travel," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said. "Our staffing levels are better, and this is largely due to better pay for all TSA employees, which starts on July 1. This key action supported by the President and Congress, enables us, for the first time in TSA's history, to pay our workforce using the same pay scale that applies to other federal employees. As expected, this has already improved our recruiting and retention rates. For passengers, this will mean better overall staffing for all of TSA's activities that support secure and efficient travel and an improved passenger experience."

Pekoske said the TSA's partnerships with airports and airlines will ensure the agency is able to anticipate and respond to changes in passenger travel throughout the summer – adding passengers can help by being prepared; having their identification ready when they begin screening; and checking to make sure they are not bringing firearms, oversized liquids or any other prohibited item into the checkpoint.

As a means of aiding passengers in navigating airport security checkpoints quickly and efficiently, the TSA has issued tips that include TSA PreCheck members ensuring their Known Traveler Number (KTN) is in their reservation; passengers allow themselves plenty of time; passengers be aware of new checkpoints technology and follow guidance from TSA officers; travelers respect TSA and other frontline airport and airline employees; and passengers ensure they have an acceptable ID.