Around 430 positions at the airports are open all around the US.
In advance of a predictable surge in summer travel, TSA (the Transportation Security Administration in the US) is now hiring 6000 new security officers.
As Melanie Harvey, Executive Assistant Administrator for TSA’s Security Operations has mentioned to our reporters: “TSOs are a critical first-line defence in securing the US commercial air transportation system. Each day, our officers screen hundreds of thousands of airline travellers ensuring they arrive at their destinations safely. We suppose to screen a higher number of travellers regularly by summer and will need additional officers to support the critical mission.”
The number of travellers at TSA checkpoints have been progressively growing since that low they reached in April. Back then, they had fewer than 100000 passengers per day to process.
Over Valentine’s Day weekend, the TSA screened more than 4 million passengers over the holiday which seemed to be a significant growth since the start of the pandemic. Although the numbers do not yet match the standards of previous years, they are favourable. Especially now that the COVID-19 vaccine is being used.
All the same, an industry trade group named Airlines for America, approximations that passenger travel numbers will not return to 2019 levels until at least 2023 or 2024.
Throughout the pandemic, the TSA has adapted to the needs of passengers including allowing travellers to carry up to 12 ounces of hand sanitiser.