Los Angeles International Airport and other area airports are preparing for a rush of airline passengers, and the busy Fourth of July travel season begins Friday.
The Transportation Security Administration said it anticipated screening more than 28 million passengers between Friday and Monday, from July 5 to 8This would mark a 5.4% increase in traffic compared to last year.
Thursday was the fifth busiest day in TSA history, with security agents processing 2.92 million passengers. That figure barely surpassed the 2.91 million travelers tested on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2023.
LAX is expected to screen about 900,000 people between July 1 and July 8, according to TSA spokeswoman Lorie Dankers. She said the busiest day expected at the airport will be July 3, when about 119,000 people are expected to travel. Monday, July 8, is expected to be almost as busy with 118,000 people.
The lightest day is expected to be July 4, with 100,000 travelers.
The TSA is “fully staffed” and prepared for the surge, Dankers said.
“TSA has been planning for this holiday period for months and operations are running smoothly at LAX,” Dankers said in an email.
And he added: “While [our] Security screening officers will be working hard during the July 4 holiday, and we are confident that travelers departing from LAX will experience a smooth and efficient security screening experience.”
The TSA said wait time standards are 10 minutes or less in TSA PreCheck lines and 30 minutes or less in regular screening lines.
The TSA also expects July 5 and 7 to be the two busiest days of the travel cycle, with more than 3 million people traveling through 434 airports.
The increase in travelers reflects the continued growth in air travel since COVID-19 health restrictions were lifted.
Ontario International Airport officials expect a 10.3% increase in travel between Tuesday, July 2 and Sunday, July 7.
That translates to approximately 117,805 visitors moving through the airport.
Ontario Airport continues to ask passengers to arrive two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours for international departures. Parking must also be reserved in advance.
Long Beach Airport has not released projections for July 4. The center, however, is coming off a record May.
A new all-time record of 189,435 travelers passed through its gates in May, surpassing the airport's previous record of 182,382 in March.
“LGB's unwavering dedication to providing first-class, easy-to-use service exceeds travelers' expectations and drives economic growth and prosperity for our region,” said the Long Beach Mayor. Rex Richardson in a statement.
The transportation center is preparing to deal with the holiday rush by increasing staffing along sidewalks and crosswalks to keep traffic flowing, said public affairs officer Kate Kuykendall. Other improvements include the addition of a temporary cell phone waiting area and special accommodations for large groups.
“While this is a busy time for our airport, we are proud to offer the most comfortable and relaxing passenger experience in the region,” Kuykendall said.
Hollywood Burbank Airport has not posted projections for July 4.
The airport's most up-to-date figures show a slight increase in travel in April, with 508,043 passengers. This is an increase of just under 1,500 travelers compared to the same period last year.
Orange County's John Wayne Airport also did not offer screenings for the Independence Day travel season. Unlike its counterparts, it experienced a drop in travel in May. The airport served 950,740 passengers last month, a decrease of 8.7% compared to May 2023 (1,041,342).
