If there was a sure sign that many travelers will take to the skies this Independence Day, it might be this Tweet from the Transportation Security Administration about a record-breaking number of people being screened a full week before July 4.
TSA officials said 83,687 passengers were screened at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday, the most ever. TSA, airline and Port Authority officials are expecting to see passenger volume take off from there on this official start of the summer travel season.
Even the state Department of Transportation is warning drivers of heavy traffic on highways around the airport from Monday to Friday on video signs on I-78 and the Pulaski Skyway.
Advice like - get to the airport early for your flight - has never had greater meaning.
Newark is expected to see 709,100 passengers use the airport during the five-day holiday travel period between Wednesday, July 3 and Sunday, July 7, said Tom Pietrykowski, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman. The bi-state authority is expecting a record total of 2.19 million-plus passengers to use its four metro area airports, including JFK, La Guardia and Stewart airports.
The authority saw passenger volume records broken at its airports in May when approximately 13 million passengers took flights. Officials reported a record Memorial Day holiday travel period between May 23 and 27, when more than 2.2 million air travelers were at the airports.
The TSA’s Thursday record could be broken Friday. United Airlines, Newark’s largest carrier, is expecting more than 55,000 passengers will be flying the airline through the airport, said Anthony Fleet, a United spokesperson.
“We’ll be flying about 400 flights and 50,000-plus passengers per day during the holiday travel period, he said.
The airline, which flies from Terminals C and A, is ready for the surge, said John Weigand, Managing Director of Newark’s Station Operation Center for United Airlines.
“We’ve staffed appropriately to manage the record crowds. Our employees have been properly briefed and come with lots of experience serving our customers effectively,” Weigand said. “Safety is our top priority, we wish everyone safe travels and we look forward to welcoming our customers to EWR over the holiday travel period.”
One tip he suggested is to download the United app to check in, check bags and get current flight status information. Travel experts recommended downloading and using airline apps.
Ahead of the holiday, the TSA installed eleven new computed tomography scanners in Terminal B, said Lisa Farbstein, a TSA spokesperson. The new state-of-the-art advanced CT scanners provide 3-D imaging that provides enhanced explosives detection capabilities for screening carry-on items. The first CT scanners in the airport were part of the new Terminal A.
The CT scanners make the screening process more convenient for travelers by allowing them to leave their laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags. along with their small 3-1-1 liquids.
TSA officials cautioned travelers to do their packing preparation work at home by checking the TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” tool to know what is prohibited in carry on luggage to avoid delays at the checkpoint.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry.
