Latest news with #KeithJeffries
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
TSA sees historic surge in airline travel with six daily records already reached this year
The Transportation Security Administration has seen a historic surge in airline travel, with six record-high days already reached this year. The summer travel season started off hot when TSA screened almost 3.1 million passengers on June 22, ABC News reported. It was the busiest travel day in the agency's 24-year history. Friday June 27 and Sunday June 29 rank as the seventh and eighth busiest days in TSA history pushing 2025 to claim six of the agency's top 10 busiest days on record. "Airlines are offering great deals, and with Fourth of July falling on a Friday this year, it extends the weekend for many folks," Keith Jeffries, former federal security director at Los Angeles International Airport, told the outlet. TSA expects to screen more than 18.5 million air travelers over this year's Fourth of July travel period, which is from Tuesday, July 1 to Monday, July 7. '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,' the agency's Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said in a press release issued last week. Jeffries believes this record-breaking travel is a good economic sign. "When you see TSA hitting some of the busiest days in its history, it's a testament to how well the economy is doing. People are traveling again, and that's exciting to see,' he told ABC News. Jeffries expects air travel to continue to increase: "We've seen steady year-over-year growth of 3 to 5% on average, with some airports experiencing even more significant increases based on population growth in certain cities." A major airplane crash at the start of the year sparked fears about the safety of flying but that doesn't seem to have stopped most travelers from booking their summer vacation flights. On January 29, an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people on board. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been publicly calling for an upgrade of the country's aging air traffic control system since then. In an opinion piece published by Fox News in May, Duffy pushed for President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' a piece of spending legislation that he said would, in part, put $12.5 billion towards 'state-of-the-art radar, fiber optic lines, and new radios.'
2 days ago
Air travel hits new milestone with 6 record days in 2025 -- and July Fourth surge expected ahead
Air travel is surging to new highs, and the Transportation Security Administration has added two more record-breaking days to the history books amid a summer of staggering passenger volumes. Just last week, as millions of Americans took to the skies, June 27 and June 29 now rank as the seventh and eighth busiest days respectively in TSA history, pushing 2025 to claim six of the agency's top 10 busiest days on record. The surge shows no signs of slowing down. TSA expects to screen 18.5 million travelers during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday period, which officially starts Tuesday. Sunday, July 6, is projected to be the busiest day as an estimated 2.9 million passengers pass through security checkpoints. This record-breaking trend began earlier this month when TSA screened nearly 3.1 million travelers on Sunday, June 22, marking the single busiest day in the agency's history. "Airlines are offering great deals, and with Fourth of July falling on a Friday this year, it extends the weekend for many folks," explains Keith Jeffries, former federal security director at Los Angeles International Airport. "People are out of school, and they're going to enjoy themselves this summer." The robust travel numbers reflect broader economic strength, according to Jeffries. "When you see TSA hitting some of the busiest days in its history, it's a testament to how well the economy is doing. People are traveling again, and that's exciting to see." Major airlines are preparing for the surge. American Airlines announced its largest-ever July Fourth operation, planning to accommodate nearly 7.6 million customers across 71,000 flights from June 27 through July 7. United Airlines expects to transport more than 6 million passengers during the same period -- 500,000 more than last year. The historic air travel boom is part of a larger holiday travel trend. AAA projects a record 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home around the Independence Day holiday, with 5.84 million choosing to fly – marking a 1.4% increase in air travel compared to last year's already record-setting numbers. Jeffries noted the growth trend is likely to continue.
Metro
03-06-2025
- Metro
Horror as toddler found riding baggage conveyer belt at embattled airport
A two-year-old child was discovered riding a baggage conveyer belt from a ticketing desk to a luggage at an airport marred with multiple problems. The toddler snuck behind a JetBlue ticketing counter at Newark Liberty International Airport while his parents weren't looking, and onto a conveyer belt where baggage are checked in. He rode the conveyer belt to the checked bag room on the lower level of the airport in New Jersey on Wednesday, according to officials. As soon as adults realized the small child was missing, two officers with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the airport, jumped on the belt. 'The two cops were able to move fast into the system, which was vital,' Port Authority Police PBA President Frank Conti told Pix11. 'There was a split in the belts. One officer went toward one direction, one toward the other direction.' An officer then saw the toddler approaching an X-ray unit. He was rescued and unharmed, but medical responders examined him to make sure. The situation was 'extremely dangerous,' said Keith Jeffries, who is vice president for K2 Security Screening Group. 'You've got diverters back there that are actually these gigantic pushers or levers, if you will, that will shove those bags down the appropriate conveyor belt, and that alone can be fatal for a small child,' he told ABC News. The toddler was rescued more than nine months after a 57-year-old woman was found dead after getting tangled up in a baggage claim conveyer belt at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The terrifying incident happened at the airport that has made national headlines in recent months for having many canceled or delayed flights due to a shortage of air traffic controllers and runway construction. On more than one occasion, controllers lost radar communications with planes for about 90 seconds. The issues lead to United Airlines, which has Newark airport as a hub, to cut back numerous routes going in and out from there. On Monday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the runway at Newark that was closed for repairs had reopened two weeks ahead of schedule. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: US suggests Palestinian state should be in the French Riviera MORE: Map shows where northern lights will be visible tonight in the US MORE: Flight path overhaul revealed – here's what it means journey times and delays
