TSA Prepared for Summer Travel Out of Lehigh Valley International Airport

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is prepared to handle an increase in the number of travelers who will be flying out of Lehigh Valley International Airport as travel volume picks up this month and into the summer.

“Memorial Day Weekend is around the corner and already this month we have started to see an uptick in checkpoint volume,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s federal security director for the airport. “Travel volume here at Lehigh Valley is currently at about 94 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The rebound from the low travel volumes during the earlier months of the pandemic may require more patience and planning than was necessary beforehand. Checkpoint environments and procedures have changed to enhance screening operations, ensure the safety and well-being of the traveling public, and to minimize the spread of COVID-19.”

The summer travel season, which begins in late May and extends beyond Labor Day weekend, covers three full months and four major holidays, which includes Juneteenth as the newest federal holiday. Juneteenth will be recognized on Monday, June 20.

Typically, from late May through Labor Day Weekend, TSA sees a sustained period of increased checkpoint volume. During the early months of the global pandemic, passenger volume fell dramatically. This year, TSA expects to see the travel volume making a strong recovery with leisure, business and international travel showing signs of recovery. TSA officers across the country are currently screening approximately 2.2 million people daily, which is a significant increase from last year. However, on the busiest days this summer, national daily travel volume will come close to 3 million people per day, resulting in the highest checkpoint volume in TSA’s history.

Due to the increase in passenger volume, “my advice is to get to the airport two hours before your scheduled flight during those busiest hours at Lehigh Valley,” Keys-Turner said. The busiest hours at Lehigh Valley International Airport are between 4:30 and 6:30 a.m. and then again from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which is why it is so important to get to the airport early, she added.

 “Mark my word, it is going to be crowded. Also keep in mind that many individuals have not flown in a very long time and people are rusty in terms of security protocols, which means it is taking somewhat longer to screen travelers. Many passengers may not be familiar with the changes that the airlines, airports, and TSA have implemented.”

TSA is no longer requiring travelers to wear masks, however they are recommended. A TSA officer will ask a traveler with a mask to remove it momentarily to verify that the person’s face matches the face on their ID.

Due to the on-going pandemic, the agency is still allowing travelers to bring one liquid hand sanitizer container up to 12 ounces per passenger in carry-on bags until further notice. Passengers can expect that these containers larger than the standard allowance of 3.4 ounces of liquids permitted through a checkpoint will need to be screened separately, which will add some time to their checkpoint experience.