The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) announced today that preparations are underway for a very busy holiday travel season at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR).

Nationwide, passenger levels have rebounded to between 7%-18% below 2019 numbers, and that upward trend is expected to continue through the holiday season. Central New Yorkers may recall that 2019 was a record-breaking year for SYR, featuring the most traffic the airport has seen in three decades.

“With the launch of Southwest Airlines at SYR and existing carriers adding more routes and larger aircraft, more seats will be available on flights out of SYR by mid-December of this year than were available in December 2019,” said SYR Executive Director Jason Terreri. “We’re excited to welcome our travelers back and have been working tirelessly to ensure a safe, seamless, and enjoyable travel experience this holiday season.”

“We strongly recommend that travelers arrive at the terminal two hours prior to their scheduled flight,” says Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Upstate New York. “We also ask travelers to come prepared to the airport for security screening. That means knowing what should and should not be packed in a carry-on bag or checked bag. The TSA web site has a lot of helpful information on preparing for a flight.”

“Our TSA officers are professionals, they are very good at their jobs, and they want to keep you safe, so when you get to the checkpoint, listen to the guidance that they are offering. That guidance is intended to make sure you have an efficient and smooth checkpoint experience,” Johnson said.

A new feature is available to travelers who will be parking and leaving their vehicle at the airport this year. The airport’s pre-book parking option will allow travelers to conveniently reserve their parking zone weeks – even months – in advance of their trip.

Holiday travelers will be treated to the sounds of the SYR Holiday Concert Series, featuring live performances by local musicians from schools and community organizations. Additionally, the Piano & Organ Center’s Yamaha grand piano and organ will be played by volunteers throughout the holiday season.

Travelers can expect an increased volunteer presence from the airport’s hugely popular PET (Pets Easing Travelers) program, which provides therapy dogs to comfort passengers during their travel day. The airport’s Fly Guide Ambassadors will also be on hand to provide directions and general assistance to travelers in need.

For those drivers picking up arriving passengers, Airport Security Officers (ASOs) are now requesting that those passenger pick-ups occur along the outer curb lines located outside of each terminal.

For more information about 27 destinations served by nonstop flights from Syracuse, please visit the airport’s Destination Page.

For more information about pre-booking parking at SYR, please visit the Airport’s Parking Guide.