TSA sets weekly screening record at RIC

Transportation Security Administration officers screened more passengers during a one-week period last month than during any other one-week period at the airport in TSA's history.

TSA officers screened 53,378 passengers and crew members June 16 to 23 at the airport, setting a weekly record for throughout at the airport’s two checkpoints.

“The RIC TSA team of officers and personnel are well aware of the significant increase in the number of passengers who are traversing through the checkpoints and I am proud of the way that they remain focused on ensuring the highest level of security, customer service and professionalism as they screen travelers,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s federal security director for Richmond International Airport. “Airport officials have pointed to an 11.7-percent increase in total passenger traffic through the airport in so far this calendar year compared to last year as a strong indicator that the airport is busy.”

The increase in the number of passengers is why travelers should arrive early to the airport, according to TSA officials, to ensure that they have ample time to account for traffic, parking and navigating through the terminal.

With the July 4th holiday this week, it is possible that more records will be set, Burke said.

Nationally, the number of passengers expected to fly this summer across the country is expected to be the highest in years with 263 million passengers and crew projected to pass through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints nationwide between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend.

TSA expects to screen 10 million more passengers this summer compared to last summer and has already set a new record for the highest number of passengers and crew screened in a single day. TSA experienced its busiest day ever on May 24 – the Friday before Memorial Day – screening a total of 2.79 million passengers and crew members and anticipates having other record breaking days throughout the summer.