Airports Expected to See Increase in Thanksgiving Travelers and Security

Airports Expected to See Increase in Thanksgiving Travelers and Security

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Nov 23, 2015

Airports’ busiest travel days of the year are likely to become even more complicated for travelers flying through U.S. airports this Thanksgiving Holiday.  In the wake of terrorist attack in Paris and the suspected bombing of a Russian passenger plane, authorities are making sure security measures are sound to create a safe environment for the predicted highest number of travelers since 2007.

An estimated 46.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday, an increase of 300,000 over last year according to AAA Travel.

The vast majority of those will be driving, but some 3.6 million Americans plan to fly to their holiday destinations, a 0.1 percent increase from last year.

The Transportation Security Administration has “doubled down” on security at airports, and wait times have gone up, although not dramatically.

Although TSA won’t reveal what additional security measures will be taken, former TSA head John Pistole said to expect more random hand swabbing for explosive residue, bomb-sniffing dogs, laptop checks and shoe removals, even if you have TSA Pre-Check.

“The key is to be unpredictable,” Pistole said.

AAA Travel defines the Thanksgiving holiday period this year from Wednesday November 25 through Sunday, November 29. The busiest travel days are predicted to be Sunday November 29, Monday, November 30 and Wednesday, November 25, respectively. The lightest days will be Thanksgiving and the Friday after.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.