Airline stocks surge after TSA reports highest traveler numbers since March

• The Transportation Security Administration on Monday reported that 831,789 travelers passed through its checkpoints on Sunday — the highest number since March 17.
• In addition, traveler traffic has consistently increased over the last two weeks, according to TSA data.
• Shares of major airlines including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines surged Monday.
• Read more on Business Insider.

Shares of major airlines surged on Monday after the Transportation Security Administration reported that travelers moving through its checkpoints hit the highest level since March, when sweeping shelter-in-place orders in the US slammed travel traffic.

On Sunday, 831,789 people went through TSA checkpoints, the most since March 17, according to data from the agency. In addition, travelers going through the TSA checkpoints have consistently risen for the last two weeks, early signs of a potential recovery.

Still, total traffic through TSA checkpoints is down roughly 70% from a year ago, showing that while air travel has improved as the economy reopens, it has a long way to go before hitting pre-pandemic levels.

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Here's how much major airlines gained in intraday trading Monday.

• United Airlines (UAL) — as much as 9%
• American Airlines (AAL) — as much as 10%
• Delta Air Lines (DAL) — as much as 8%
• Spirit Airlines (SAVE) — as much as 8%
• Southwest Airlines (LUV) — as much as 6%