The Transportation Security Administration said more than 18.5 million travelers will be flying during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.
This year’s projection includes Tuesday, July 1, through Monday, July 7, with the highest passenger volume – about 2.9 million – expected on Sunday, July 6.
TSA screened nearly 3.1 million travelers on Sunday, June 22, the busiest single day in the agency’s history.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the region’s airports, will have passenger travel projections later this week.
“TSA continues to work closely with our industry partners and ensure our airport security checkpoints are fully staffed and prepared to handle the heavy rush of traffic,” said TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill. “We are deploying technologies and procedures to improve security and enhance the passenger experience, including for families. We ask travelers to pack their patience, especially during peak travel days, as we work to provide maximum hospitality to our customers.”
The uptick in passenger travel will put additional strain on Newark Liberty International Airport, which has been hampered by extended delays and cancellations related to the closure of one runway, equipment failures, and a shortage of air traffic controllers.
The airport has been working to ease delays to the traveling public. Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration limited the rate of arrivals and departures at Newark Airport through Dec. 31, 2025. The FAA order, which took effect on June 6, limits arrivals and departures to 28 each per hour during airport construction on weekends from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025. During the rest of the time, arrivals and departures should not exceed 34 each per hour through Oct. 25, 2025.
Newark reopened the runway on June 2, 13 days ahead of schedule. The 11,000-foot long runway was repaired because of signs of wear. The project cost $121 million and began in early March and the runway was completely shut down on April 15. Work performed included re-paving the surface, updating lighting, improving airfield signs, installing new underground electrical infrastructure and improving drainage. It will continue to be closed on nights and weekends to be sure it is fully renovated by the end of the year.
Among equipment issues, the airport is also adding three high-bandwidth telecommunications connections between the New York-based hubs and the Philadelphia TRACON. This will provide more speed, reliability and redundancy. The airport is replacing copper telecommunications connections with updated fiber-optic technology that also has greater bandwidth and speed. And it is establishing a STARS hub at the Philadelphia TRACON so that the facility does not depend on a telecommunications feed from the New York STARS hub.
The airport also is increasing controller staffing. Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which directs aircraft in and out of Newark, has 22 fully certified controllers and five fully certified supervisors. The FAA said it has another 22 controllers and supervisors currently in training.
