Borderland air/ground travel expected to pick up for Memorial Day weekend

EL PASO, Texas -- After travel slowed down across the U.S. and the Borderland due to the COVID-19 pandemic, experts predict to see an increase in travel for the unofficial start to summer.

Travel is already starting to rebound. According to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), agents screened more than 1.86 million passengers on Sunday, which is the highest daily total since March 2020.

TSA agents have screened more than 1 million passengers every single day since mid-March of 2021.

"That really is something that makes us see that the summer is going to be strong," said Patricia Mancha, spokesperson for TSA in Texas. "Pre-pandemic, we had over two million passengers on a daily basis." Mancha predicts TSA will hit the two million mark soon.

Mancha said traveling in general, as well as Covid-19 restrictions for different states are evolving.

"Now Sundays are becoming one of the busier travel days because a lot of people are traveling more for leisure than they are for business," Mancha said.

TSA is also working to hire about 1,000 officers by the fourth of July holiday, according to Reuters.

It's not just air travel that's picking up. AAA Texas predicts 2.8 million Texans will hit the road this Memorial Day weekend. That's a 60 percent increase from 2020.

Both TSA and AAA Texas suggest travelers plan ahead.

"Pease be aware that you will need time to make it through the security checkpoint to get everything in order and get to your plane," Mancha said.

For TSA travel requirements, click here.