ORLANDO, Fla. – The holiday travel season is officially in full swing.
At the Orlando International Airport, the official travel period started on Friday. Nearly three million people are expected to pass through the gates between now and Jan. 5, a one percent increase from last year’s record numbers.
TSA agents are expected to screen 40 million people this holiday travel season and the potential for a government shutdown has raised concerns about longer wait times for travelers. The head of the agency took to X to highlight these potential delays.
“At TSA, part of DHS, about 59,000 of the agency’s 62,000+ employees arsenal are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. considered essential and would continue working without pay in the event of a shutdown. We expect to screen 40M passengers over the holidays and through January 2. While our personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, please be aware that an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports.
David P. Pekoske, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
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TSA screeners and air traffic controllers are considered essential workers, meaning they would still have to report to work even if they are not getting paid during a government shutdown. But this has led to delays in the past.
During a previous government shutdown in 2019, airports experienced numerous delays and cancellations as workers, both security screeners and air traffic controllers, began calling out sick in large numbers. Shortly after this, lawmakers came to an agreement and got the paychecks flowing.
Regardless of whether the government shuts down, airport officials advise travelers to arrive three hours before their flights and to exercise patience amid the record crowds.
As many people head to the airport for holiday travel, others are sticking to the streets. To promote traffic safety this season, Seminole County held its annual High Visibility Intersection Mission on Friday.
Departments from across the county participated in the mission.
“There’s a lot of people on the roadways coming in from out of town visiting. We have a mall here that everybody comes to, so the traffic is a lot right now during this time of year,” Public Information Officer for Altamonte Springs Deana DiPaola explained.
They selected intersections known for high traffic and frequent infractions.
“These are high visibility intersections because these are where a lot of traffic is. That’s why we picked these in the city and around the area in Seminole County,” DiPaola said.
The goal is to keep drivers safe and remind everyone not to let holiday distractions lead to an unwanted fine.
“The things that they’re going to be looking for are going to be seat belt violations, running red lights. When the light is red, making sure that they’re not stopped in the middle of the road,” DiPaola noted.
DiPaola reminded drivers that these are rules to follow every day, not just when they are present.
“It’s just that this is a high visibility mission, so we are out there basically educating and making sure everyone is following the laws, but that’s something that you should do all the time,” she said.
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