TSA expecting more than 540K holiday travelers at Phoenix Sky Harbor
Dec 19, 2017, 5:05 AM | Updated: 11:38 am
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
PHOENIX — More than 540,000 travelers were expected to pass through security checkpoints at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport over the upcoming holidays, the Transportation Security Administration said.
The agency said it expected to scan more than 50,000 passengers per day during the busiest times, which will be the days before and after Christmas and the new year.
The overall number of travelers will likely increase, as the TSA only released numbers for Dec. 22-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 2.
The travel will not just be holiday-related. Two college bowl games — the Cactus Bowl on Dec. 26 and PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30 — will be played in the Phoenix area.
The Cactus Bowl between Kansas State and the University of California-Los Angeles will be played at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix.
The Fiesta Bowl will pit Washington against Penn State at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
To keep up with the increase in fliers, the agency said it would be running a full staff and pay overtime to some workers. Bomb-sniffing canines will also be used to speed up the screening process.
Passengers were asked to review what is allowed through TSA, including liquids, before they head to the airport.
Gifts should be left unwrapped, as an officer may have to go through it.
Travelers with questions about disabilities or medical conditions should call the TSA hotline at 855-787-2227.
