July travel period underway with Thursday expected to be busy day at airports

The July travel period is underway, with Thursday expected to be the busiest day at airports as millions move for the holiday and other major events. At Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday morning, passengers lined up to depart, and checkpoint lines between Terminals D and E were relatively light early on. TSA expects to screen nearly 18.7 million travelers at U.S. airport security checkpoints between Tuesday and next Monday, with Thursday forecast as the peak day. AAA Mid-Atlantic says nearly a million Philadelphia-area residents plan to travel during its nine-day holiday period that began Saturday, with more than 93,000 expected to fly. The “other” category is up 6.7%, reflecting growth in options like cruises. Travelers are also navigating Fourth of July plans and ongoing World Cup activity, while AAA cautioned intense heat could bring summer storms affecting trips.