Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer travel season at MKE International Airport

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The TSA expects 24,000 passengers will have traveled through Milwaukee Mitchell Airport this Memorial Day holiday weekend. 

Nationwide, the TSA screened nearly 5 million flyers just Friday and Saturday alone.

This is just the start of summer travel. American Airlines said it expects to fly 52 million people on nearly 470,000 flights.

Since 2021, the airline has added 17,600 employees as staffing issues led to increased delays and cancelations last summer.

"We took a lot of effort and investment and making sure that we've got the right people at the right place, with the right tools," said Brady Byrnes, senior vice president of American Airlines. "And we feel really, really good."

Memorial Day is of course, a big travel day, as people head home. But flight bookings for Tuesday and Wednesday are also up by double digits as travelers extend the holiday weekend.