Syracuse, New York –The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) announced today that preparations are underway for an expected increase in spring break travelers at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). While passenger traffic has been down about 73% compared to pre-pandemic levels for most of the first three months of 2021, an announcement from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo earlier this month is expected to change that. The announcement indicated that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering the state starting Thursday April 1st.

The removal of domestic travel restrictions for New York State aligns with the week when most Central New York school districts have scheduled their spring breaks. This coordinates well with late-week spring break return flights to SYR.

“After a tough year enduring this global pandemic, many Central New York families are ready to travel,” said SYR Executive Director Jason Terreri. “We look forward to seeing members of our community traveling through the airport for a family vacation, knowing that we’ve taken every precaution possible to ensure a safe environment while at the airport with all of our enhanced cleaning, sanitization, and safety protocols.”

As travel rebounds, local Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials have begun activating the dedicated TSA Precheck lane during peak hours. This allows travelers enrolled in TSA’s expedited screening program to enjoy an even faster option through the security checkpoint.

Additionally, the SRAA is eyeing near-term projects to continue safely, securely, and efficiently serving the traveling public of Central New York (and beyond). Up next, the airport will begin a massive multi-month rehabilitation project on its main east-west runway (runway 10-28) in late April.

With the uptick in travelers, the airport would like to remind drivers who are picking up and dropping off passengers that the front curbline at SYR is an active curbline. An active curbline means that vehicles are not allowed to stand or park at the curbline and wait for passengers. Those waiting for passengers to arrive are encouraged to wait in the Cell Phone Lot – free of charge – until contacted by the arriving passenger.

To learn more about the airport’s continued efforts to combat the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, please visit the airport’s dedicated COVID-19 information page.