Buffalo Niagara Int. ready to welcome the influx of summer travelers

Cheektowaga, New York (WBEN) – Bart Johnson, director of federal security for the TSA, which oversees airports in upstate New York, is once again reminding the public to arrive at the security checkpoint two hours early, so as summer travel continues to heat up and reach new heights.

“TSA is having its busiest time since COVID. Already we’ve broken eight out of 10 records and I’m guessing tomorrow will be the ninth. Buffalo is no exception, 110% throughput, where we are right now in comparison .to pre-COVID levels, so he implores the traveling public to arrive here two hours ahead of schedule,” Johnson said Wednesday.

The numbers cited by Johnson are the busiest days in TSA history. In May and June alone, TSA saw several days rank among the top 10 busiest days in its 22-year history. Normally, the TSA screened about 2.5 million people per day nationwide, but since last month the number of people screened has increased by several hundred thousand per day.

TSA plans to screen more than 32 million people from Thursday, June 27 through Monday, July 8, representing a 5.4% increase over travel volumes for the 2023 Independence Day holiday. June, TSA broke the record for the most people screened in a single day, screening nearly 3 million (2.99 million) people.

Johnson implores airline passengers to pack an empty bag and use TSA to check what they can and cannot bring. And as always, when it comes to liquids, remember the 3-1-1 rule. That rule being that liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes are allowed in carry-on bags as long as each item weighs 3.4 ounces or less and is placed in a one-liter bag. Each passenger is limited to one liter bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes.

Johnson referenced several recent cases in Rochester and Albany where someone smuggled loaded guns through checkpoints.

It is important for people with firearms to remember that they are prohibited from passing through security checkpoints, even if a passenger has a concealed carry permit or is in a constitutional carry jurisdiction. Passengers may travel with a firearm, but it must be placed in their checked baggage; packed unloaded; enclosed in a hard case; and declared to the airline during check-in at the airline counter. If a passenger brings a firearm to the security checkpoint on their person or in their carry-on bag, TSA will contact local law enforcement to safely unload and take possession of the firearm. Law enforcement may also arrest or cite the passenger, depending on local law. TSA can impose a civil penalty of up to $15,000 for weapons interceptions, and passengers will lose their TSA PreCheck® eligibility.

TSA PreCheck® members must ensure their Known Traveler Number (KTN) is included in their airline reservation. It is essential that airline reservations indicate the passenger’s correct KTN, full name and date of birth so that they can receive the benefits of the program. Those traveling with multiple airlines should ensure that their KTN is updated in each of their airline profiles each time they travel. TSA PreCheck passengers are low-risk travelers who do not need to remove shoes, belts, 3-1-1 fluids, food, laptops and light jackets at the TSA checkpoint. TSA wait time standards for TSA PreCheck lanes are less than 10 minutes and less than 30 minutes for standard lanes. Travelers can visit https://www.tsa.gov/precheck for more information about registering or renewing TSA PreCheck and to find registration locations and pricing information for all TSA PreCheck providers. TSA PreCheck registration.

“It’s also important to remember that our TSA agents are working all summer, including the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, so please respect TSA and other frontline airport and airline employees,” Johnson said. “Our agents, all frontline airport and airline employees, and local law enforcement are working together to ensure safe and secure travel. Consider offering them a kind note of thanks.”