SLC International Airport Expecting Record Holiday Travel Numbers
Dec 14, 2018, 1:41 PM | Updated: 8:55 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Salt Lake City International Airport could see its busiest day ever as the height of holiday travel season approaches.
The Transportation Security Administration is expecting a six percent increase in 2018 holiday traffic over 2017.
“Friday, Saturday, Sunday before Christmas are going to be very busy,” said TSA federal security director Mark Lewis. “The day after Christmas may be a record at this airport.”
Lewis said about 22,500 passengers travel through the airport on an average day. He said there could be as many as 29,000 people traveling through the airport on December 26.
Travelers go through the TSA checkpoint in the Salt Lake City airport.
As the airport prepares for large crowds, security officials want to remind people to leave prohibited items at home.
Friday morning, they set up a display of items they have confiscated at the SLC security checkpoint. There were several utility knives, stun guns, a sword concealed in a cane, and even inert grenades.
“Most people say they don’t understand or didn’t realize they weren’t permitted,” Lewis said.
In some cases, he said people simply forgot the items were in their carry-on bags.
“That’s why I recommend people actually unpack their bag and repack it before they get to the checkpoint, so they know what’s in their bag,” Lewis said.
TSA advised travelers to arrive at the airport two hours prior to their flights during the busiest days of the travel season. The TSA checkpoint at Terminal 1 is open 24 hours a day, while the Terminal 2 checkpoint opens at 4:30 a.m.
