Officials at Denver International Airport are anticipating a potentially record setting Fourth of July holiday.
The airport expects to handle 1.2 million passengers for the holiday weekend. That’s a 13 percent increase from the 2015 Fourth of July holiday season.
Because of the large crowds, travelers are advised to arrive at least two hours before their flight. The TSA checkpoints are busiest between 5-10 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. according to airport officials.
Security is an on-going concern over this Independence Day weekend.
The TSA provided Denver7 with this statement concerning travel over the holiday weekend:
“TSA’s primary focus is the current threat environment, as the American transportation system remains a high value target for terrorists. Our strong economy means air carriers are enjoying record travel volume, which is resulting in heavier than normal volumes of travelers at our nation’s airports – some with double digit increases over last summer. In addition to arriving at U.S. airports up to two hours prior to departure, we encourage travelers to enroll in TSA Pre?® or other trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, Nexus, or SENTRI, which improve security and reduce wait times. TSA is addressing the growing volume of travelers, with measures including more canine use, overtime, and accelerated hiring. We are appreciative that our airline partners are working with us by asking travelers to arrive at the airport as much as two hours early for domestic flights, which will help to alleviate some of the expected summer congestion. Traveler security is TSA’s first priority and we remain intensely focused on our important mission.”
-- Leave the fireworks at home --
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is also reminding travelers that fireworks don't fly this Fourth of July -- or any other day of the year, for that matter. To avoid having them confiscated, the TSA had this say, according to ABC News:
"Fireworks and firecrackers are explosive and flammable, so in an effort to keep the skies safe, fireworks are prohibited from being transported in both carry-on and checked bags," the TSA wrote on its blog. "TSA is responsible for enforcing this FAA rule by intercepting these items during screening."
Aerial repeater fireworks, aerial shell fireworks, firecrackers, flying spinners, chasers, fountains, bottle rockets, ground spinners, parachute fireworks, poppers, snaps, skyrockets, missiles, roman candles, smoke fireworks, snakes, strobes, sparklers, wheels and anything else firework-related is not permitted on a commercial aircraft in checked or carry-on luggage.
Hot dogs, and other solid food items, can travel in your carry-on bags. Liquid food items -- like your special BBQ sauce -- have to be checked.
Have a question about what flies with the TSA? Check out their handy "Can I bring my . . ." tool. You can also tweet the TSA your questions @AskTSA 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, weekdays; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends and holidays.
For a full list of summer travel tips from DIA, click here.
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