Methodology

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Researchers at Upgraded Points analyzed Transportation Security Administration checkpoint throughput data from The Airline Travel Demand Tracker from Upgraded Points, which compiles and analyzes airport-level screening data obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. The analysis examined average daily TSA throughput between March and May 2026 and compared it with the same period in 2025 to measure year-over-year changes in checkpoint activity at airports across the United States.

National, state, and airport-level trends were calculated using average daily passenger throughput during the study period. Airports were categorized according to the Federal Aviation Administration's hub classifications, where applicable. Percentage changes were calculated by comparing average daily throughput during the March-May 2026 funding lapse period with that of the same months in 2025.

TSA throughput data are widely used as an indicator of air travel activity but do not measure traveler demand directly. Throughput figures can be influenced by a range of factors, including airline schedules, route changes, ticket prices, fuel costs, economic conditions, weather events, and airport-specific operational factors. In addition, the 2026 TSA funding lapse coincided with staffing shortages and operational disruptions that may have affected the completeness or consistency of reported throughput data at some locations. As a result, changes in throughput should be interpreted as indicators of airport screening activity rather than definitive measures of passenger demand.

Inflation-adjusted airfare data were sourced from Upgraded Points' U.S. Airfare Watch Index, which analyzes historical domestic airfare data reported by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Airfare figures reflect base ticket prices and may not include taxes, baggage fees, seat selection charges, onboard purchases, or other ancillary fees that travelers often pay separately.

For complete results, see Which Airports Were Most Impacted by the TSA Funding Lapse? on Upgraded Points.

Simon Mayer

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Which Airports Were Most Impacted by the TSA Funding Lapse?
Which Airports Were Most Impacted by the TSA Funding Lapse?
With summer air travel remaining near peak levels and TSA introducing its new Gold+ screening program, researchers at Upgraded Points analyzed checkpoint throughput data to identify which U.S. airports were most affected by the 2026 TSA funding lapse. As policymakers focus on modernizing airport security and millions of travelers head through TSA checkpoints this summer, the study provides one of the first airport-by-airport looks at how staffing shortages affected screening operations during a major federal funding disruption—offering new insight into which airports proved most vulnerable and which remained resilient. In the study, airports are ranked according to the percentage change in average daily TSA throughput. 1 min