Syracuse, New York –The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) announced today that Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is prepared for an anticipated significant increase in local school district spring break travelers this year.

From Friday, April 8^th through Wednesday, April 13^th, the airport is expecting just under 29,000 passengers to board flights at SYR – a remarkable 103% increase over the same stretch last year near the end of the New York State Travel Advisory. This number also represents an 11% increase in available seats over 2019, which was the busiest year in three decades at SYR.

To accommodate the increased demand for parking, the airport is completing construction of an additional employee staging area this week. During peak demand times, employees of the airport will temporarily park in this new staging area, adjacent the airport hotel. This will allow the current employee lot’s roughly 470 spots to be used for the traveling public, expanding the airport’s parking capacity to just over 5,000 spots. This is nearly three times the industry standard for similarly sized airports.

Last week, pre-book parking spots sold out for the spring break stretch. This represents only a portion of the overall parking available to travelers. Travelers who have not pre-booked parking are encouraged to monitor the airport’s official Facebook and Twitter feeds for regular parking updates during the spring break stretch.

“We’re excited to see that families are back to traveling in full force this spring break,” said SRAA Executive Director Jason Terreri. “Our team continues to work around the clock to ensure a safe, secure, and efficient airport experience for our passengers.”

Drivers picking up arriving passengers are reminded that pick ups now occur at the outer curb lines of the airport, adjacent each terminal. Please follow the new color-coded signs directing motorists to the appropriate pick up areas. The front curb line of the airport is reserved for drop offs only. To protect the safety of pedestrians and motorists, drivers are not permitted to sit and wait along the side of Col. Eileen Collins Blvd.

Representatives from the airport’s Pets Easing Travelers (PET) Program and Fly Guide Ambassadors will conduct increased visits to the airport during peak hours to further assist the traveling public.

Local Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials recommend arriving at SYR two hours prior to a traveler’s scheduled departure, especially during peak hours. Peak TSA checkpoint traffic at SYR generally occurs between 4:30 am – 6:00 am, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, and 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Travelers with questions about what can and cannot pass through the TSA security checkpoint are encouraged to use the agency’s popular “Ask TSA” social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more about the 29 destinations served by nonstop flights from Syracuse, please visit the airport’s Destinations page.