WASHINGTON — U.S. airports and airlines are handling record numbers of travelers this summer, placing growing pressure on an aviation system already strained by air traffic control staffing shortages, aging infrastructure and increasingly crowded flights as the Independence Day travel period begins.
The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen nearly 18.7 million passengers between June 30 and July 6, making it one of the busiest holiday travel periods on record. More than 3 million passengers are expected to pass through security checkpoints on the peak travel day, according to the agency.
U.S. airlines are transporting more passengers than ever while operating fewer flights than two decades ago, relying on larger aircraft and higher seat occupancy to accommodate demand. The trend has increased pressure on airports, aircraft cabins and the nation's air traffic management system, industry officials and federal authorities say.
Airlines have urged Congress to accelerate investment in the Federal Aviation Administration's modernization efforts, arguing that outdated technology and controller shortages have become the industry's greatest operational constraint.
"It's clear that the biggest threat to a healthy and competitive airline industry is our short-staffed and woefully antiquated air traffic control system," Airlines for America President and Chief Executive Chris Sununu told lawmakers during a recent congressional hearing.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has acknowledged that the aviation system has "reached its limits," saying modernization must go beyond replacing legacy equipment to address longstanding operational inefficiencies. The FAA recently awarded an $875 million contract for artificial intelligence-enhanced software intended to improve traffic management across U.S. airspace.
The agency has also taken steps to manage congestion at some of the country's busiest airports. In April, the FAA announced temporary scheduling reductions at Chicago O'Hare International Airport to reduce anticipated summer delays after determining planned flight volumes exceeded available capacity. The agency has also extended flight limits at major New York-area airports to address continuing congestion and air traffic control constraints.
Rapid passenger growth has been particularly evident at expanding airports such as Nashville International Airport, where traffic has more than doubled over the past decade. Airport officials have added terminals, gates and other facilities, but some travelers say congestion has become increasingly noticeable both inside terminals and onboard aircraft.
Federal agencies say they have increased staffing and deployed additional screening technology to handle the holiday travel surge, while advising passengers to arrive early, monitor airline notifications and prepare for busy terminals as record demand continues through the July 4 travel period.
