Passenger screening activity at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport increased during a spring 2026 TSA funding lapse, even as national checkpoint traffic fell, according to a new analysis from Upgraded Points.
The study found average daily TSA checkpoint throughput at the Rochester airport rose 6.5% between March and May 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
Researchers said ROC averaged 4,661 TSA screenings per day from March through May 2026, up from 4,378 during the same period in 2025. The airport averaged 4,768 screenings per day in May 2026.
Nationally, average daily TSA throughput fell 6.7% during the same period, dropping from about 2.43 million screenings per day in 2025 to about 2.27 million in 2026, according to the study.
The report said the 2026 funding lapse disrupted TSA operations nationwide as transportation security officers were required to work without pay. Researchers said staffing shortages and operational disruptions affected airports unevenly, with some seeing steep declines and others maintaining or increasing checkpoint activity.
Rochester ranked 56th among small hub airports for year-over-year change in average daily TSA checkpoint throughput, with the largest declines ranked highest and the largest increases ranked lowest. Among all 425 airports included in the analysis, ROC ranked 279th.
The study said checkpoint throughput is often used as an indicator of air travel activity, but it is not a direct measure of traveler demand. Airline schedules, route changes, ticket prices, fuel costs, local operations, weather and reporting issues can also affect TSA screening totals.
Upgraded Points said its researchers analyzed airport-level TSA checkpoint throughput data between March and May 2026 and compared it with the same months in 2025. The data came from the group's Airline Travel Demand Tracker, which compiles screening information obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests.
The report said changes in throughput during the funding lapse should be interpreted as signs of airport screening activity rather than definitive proof of passenger demand.
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