Thanksgiving travel will set a new record this year with almost 2.3 million passengers expected to take to the skies, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced Friday.
That’s more than double the holiday 2014 traveler total of 1.2 million.
“We’re expecting people will be flying throughout the holidays,” TSA spokesman Michael England told Fox News. “For the most part, all major carriers will be offering all of their regularly scheduled service.”
Officials are predicting passengers to fly out of 27 major U.S. airports on Thanksgiving day, including both day and night departures, including New York’s LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and John F. Kennedy International.
The airlines’ flight schedule is expected to be at 86 percent of capacity for the holidays, according to the TSA.
TSA said that travelers flying Thanksgiving weekend should see no increase in security lines at any security checkpoints.
“The increase in Thanksgiving travelers at the security checkpoints is not likely to cause wait times to rise significantly,” the TSA said in a statement. “TSA anticipates that delays may be short term, depending on the flow of passengers at airports, and will keep watch over our airport security operations to ensure customers have a pleasant experience.”
TSA said there will be 96 passenger screening lanes operating at all of the largest airports, including all five runways at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Navy Corpsman Kyle Leiphan, of Lakeville, Minn., said he knows the drill.
“I’m hoping for a really, really short line so I can make my flight,” he told Fox News.
Here’s what the TSA said you should remember:
– Be a good passenger. You may be asked to go through metal detectors, be screened with electronic passenger wands and go through full-body scans.
– Bring only what you need. Keep your carry-on clear and include: your phone, laptop, water bottle, thermometer, and non-perishable food, medications, and sports equipment.
– Leave your electronics in your checked baggage. Don’t take them out of your bag while you go through security – the X-ray machines can see through the bottom of your bag.
– Present your boarding pass and proof of your ticket to security officers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.