The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been screening a record number of travelers and finding lots of firearms as it does.
How many firearms?
For the first half of the year, which ended on June 30, TSA reports that it found 3,269 firearms at airport security checkpoints, an average of 19 firearms a day.
94% of all the firearms found so far were loaded.
During this period last year, TSA found about the same number of firearms: 3,251.
How’s it going now that we’re into the 2nd half of 2024?
In the first 8 days of July, TSA found an additional 166 additional firearms. So we’re off to an alarming start.
Happy 75th birthday to Seattle-Tacoma Int’l Airport
SEA easing into its 75th year
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) celebrated a milestone birthday on Tuesday with a day of festivities in the terminal and a look back at opening day.
A crowd of 30,000 came to see the completion of the administration building and passenger terminal. Northwest Airlines was the first to operate out of the new terminal. pic.twitter.com/nzE2kcEyl7
— Washington State Archives (@WAStateArchives) July 9, 2024
SEA scavenger hunt
SEA created a terminal-wide scavenger hunt in honor of its 75th birthday.
Here’s the map of where to look for the scavenger hunt items and the list of what to look for next time you’re in the SEA terminal.
Leo is obviously excited for the big weekend and belted out a few loud “neighs” while greeting our horse this afternoon in the terminal.
Needless to say, we too are ready and look forward to welcoming any travelers planning to attend the @BelmontStakes Saturday in Saratoga! 🐎 pic.twitter.com/zqv5tSQhD9
— New Orleans Airport (@flyneworleans) June 4, 2024
We’ve been watching these Jabbrrbox workspace pods sprout at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) over the past few months and have yet to try them out. Given how busy the airport is this season, though, we’re sure travelers with work to do or important calls to take will find them useful.
Work while you’re on the go! 💼 We have 11 Jabbrrbox Escape Pod workspaces available throughout the terminal. 💻 Whether you need to make a call or run a meeting, there’s a spot for you at SEA! https://t.co/EdK0pvLDXapic.twitter.com/29uaVZ9sly
— Seattle-Tacoma Intl. Airport (@flySEA) June 4, 2024
We’re keeping an eye out for the colorful posts from airports in support of Pride Month.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is lighting up its tower with a two-fer in support of Indigenous History Month AND Pride Month.
We're shining bright! ✨
Throughout the month of June, look out for the YVR tower in the evening which will light up orange for Indigenous History Month, and rainbow in celebration of Pride Month. Travelling through? Snap a photo and tag us. 📸 pic.twitter.com/kLH4HTjuJs
And we got a kick out of this TSA post recognizing National Hug Your Cat Day. Is that even a real thing?
‼️Paws To Read‼️ It's National Hug Your Cat Day, and we’ve got one thing to say! Please (please!), never put your cat in the X-ray. For more on the screening of cats and other small pets, see: https://t.co/QuCksUFjDlpic.twitter.com/1ztmQdM8FX
That’s what the Transportation Security Administration has in mind.
For the next six months, TSA and the Department of Homeland Security will be testing a self-service checkpoint at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.
Starting in mid-March, travelers enrolled in TSA PreCheck will have the option to use TSA’s Innovation Checkpoint at LAS and test out a prototype technology that includes new body scanning technology that lets passengers complete the screening process on their own.
As they do now, travelers will empty their pockets and put all carry-on items into bins that go through the X-ray machines. Then each passenger steps into an enclosed scanning booth.
If, for example, the passenger has left a cell phone in their pocket, the booth directs them to step out, empty their pockets and try again.
The goal, TSA says, is to use this technology to cut down on instances where a TSA agent is required to conduct a pat-down or secondary screening.
Curious about how it works and ready – or not – to give it a try?
Pop quiz: Can you take your gun on a plane in your carry-on bag?
The answer is no.
But the message isn’t getting through. No matter how many times and in how many ways the Transportation Security Administration crew tries to remind travelers of that fact.
In 2023, TSA officers found 6,737 firearms in carry-on bags at airport security checkpoints.
That’s up from the 6,542 firearms detected in 2022. And it’s a scary new record.
Even more alarming: of all the guns TSA found in carry-on bags at airport checkpoints nationwide in 2023, approximately 93 percent were loaded.
The TSA didn’t share how many of those loaded guns had a bullet in the chamber. (They used to).
.@TSA officers at @ReaganAirport prevented three individuals from bringing these handguns onto flights on Friday. Three in one day! Shaking my head. Police confiscated each gun, issued criminal citations and TSA will likely slap each with a pricey federal civil penalty. pic.twitter.com/XSRDb5GkEr
— Lisa Farbstein, TSA Spokesperson (@TSA_Northeast) December 16, 2023
Top 10 list of airports where TSA found the most guns
In 2023, firearms were caught at 265 airport checkpoints.
Here’s a TSA chart showing the 10 airports where TSA found the most guns. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) tops the list with a total of 451 firearms. Three Texas airports are on the Top 10 list.
Top 10 airports with guns caught by TSA at checkpoints in 2023
Rank
Airport (Code)
Total
1
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
451
2
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
378
3
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
311
4
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
235
5
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
188
6
Denver International Airport (DEN)
178
7
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
164
8
Tampa International Airport
144
9
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
135
10
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
The numbers have been climbing. This chart shows firearms caughtby TSA at checkpoints from 2008 to 2023
Year
Nationwide
2023
6,737
2022
6,542
2021
5,972
2020
3,257
2019
4,432
2018
4,239
2017
3,957
2016
3,391
2015
2,653
2014
2,212
2013
1,813
2012
1,556
2011
1,320
2010
1,123
2009
976
2008
926
Can you take your gun in your checked bag?
The answer is yes. But.
TSA says travelers may pack firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded and packed in a locked hard-side case.
Ammunition must be in its original box and can be packed inside the hard-side case, next to the firearm. Even if the box of ammunition is not full, the bullets must be in their original case. The case with the firearm should be brought to the airline check-in counter to be declared to the airline representative.
AAA projects 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. That’s an increase of 2.3% over last year and marks the third-highest Thanksgiving forecast since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000.
AAA expects 4.7 million people will fly over the Thanksgiving holiday.
That’s an increase of 6.6% compared to 2022 and the highest number of Thanksgiving air travelers since 2005.
Airport checkpoints will be busier than ever during this Thanksgiving holiday season, which begins Friday, Nov. 17, and concludes Tuesday, Nov. 28. And during that 12-day period, TSA expects to screen 30 million passengers.
Historically, the three busiest travel days around Thanksgiving are the Tuesday and Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward. TSA expects to screen 2.6 million passengers on Tuesday, Nov. 21; 2.7 million passengers on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and 2.9 million passengers on Sunday, Nov. 26, which will likely be the busiest travel day.
TSA PreCheck
TSA says there are now more than 17.6 million passengers enrolled in TSA PreCheck, which represents 3.9 million more TSA PreCheck members than there were this time last year.
So don’t be surprised if the PreCheck lanes seem long at the airports you’ll be flying through this holiday season.
