Syracuse airport’s $28 million expansion made many upgrades

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It’s a construction project that sought to enhance the passenger experience at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). The effort included a component that was meant to keep “International” in the airport’s name. The $28.4 million expansion and modernization project was awarded $20 million from the New York governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization competition, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced July 28. Besides the airport work, the New York State Department of Transportation has completed a $10.5 million rehabilitation of the Airport Boulevard (Colonel Eileen Collins Boulevard) bridges over Interstate 81, easing travel to and from the airport. Launched in the spring of 2023, the work included installations of new concrete bridge decks, replacement of deteriorated steel beams, and the repair of concrete piers and pedestals to enhance safety. Hochul and Marie Therese Dominguez, commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), joined Jason Terreri, executive director of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, for the July 28 announcement and ribbon cutting.

The project includes an expanded north concourse with additional seating, concession areas, and improved passenger flow, the governor’s office said. The project also renovated the second floor of the terminal building in the location of gate 15 to expand the federal inspection station facility, ensuring the airport retains its international designation. The project installed the latest FIS equipment for international operations that will allow for the processing of 200 passengers per hour, replacement of a jet bridge, installation of a new elevator tower and baggage carousel, and the creation of an additional hold room and boarding space, Hochul’s office said. The project also installed a new wayfinding lighting-control system and support for hearing-impaired passengers. The new improvement project — which had a total estimated cost of $28.4 million — added more than 4,000 square feet to the north concourse. It serves about 40 percent of the passengers traveling through the facility each year, with the expansion providing room for improved passenger flow, additional seating areas, and concession space. “This state-funded Terminal Expansion Project aligns with our team’s vision of creating and maintaining a best-in-class airport experience at Syracuse Hancock International Airport — the gateway to Central New York and beyond!” Terreri said in the state’s announcement. The SYR project builds on the terminal-renovation project that crews completed in 2018, Hochul’s office noted. With continued support from New York State, activity at the airport has continued to grow, per the state’s announcement. The airport handled more than 3 million passengers in 2024, an increase of 5.2 percent from the prior year. Enplanements have surged from 840,994 in 2021 to nearly 1.5 million in 2024. The latest data from a NYSDOT study estimated that the airport’s annual economic impact exceeds $864.5 million.