State gives Syracuse Hancock International Airport $20M to expand north concourse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Syracuse Hancock International Airport will see significant changes in the future including an expansion of its north concourse and a new federal inspection station thanks to New York State funding.
On Thursday, March 7, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Syracuse Airport will receive $20 million to provide additional seating and concession areas in the north concourse and to expand the Federal Inspection Station facility to process 200 passengers per hour.
The Syracuse airport is one of nine upstate airports awarded $230 million in the latest round of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition funding, announced by Governor Hochul in 2022.
“Central New York is on the cusp of an unprecedented transformation that will bring new energy and economic opportunities to the region and we are ensuring that our vital transportation infrastructure is ready,” Governor Hochul said. “The improvements we are making to Syracuse Hancock International Airport will create a more welcoming experience for residents and visitors to the Salt City and will fuel the generational growth and advancement that is occurring right now.”
The new federal inspection station includes renovating the second floor of the terminal building in the location of gate 15, ensuring the airport retains its international designation.
According to the state, the airport awards are intended to promote, revitalize and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports.
Syracuse Hancock was built in 1949 and has served as a catchment area stretching from the Canadian border to Pennsylvania and handling several commercial carriers. This new project will build on the terminal renovation project completed in 2018 and bring the airport into the 21st century.
This major investment means Syracuse Hancock International Airport can break ground on critical renovations and finally takeoff on long-awaited construction to transform the airport into a major hub for all residents, visitor, and travelers. These funds will modernize and expand Hancock to meet the needs of one of the fastest growing airports in the nation and support the increased demand for air service spurred by historic levels of federal and state investment across the region. A modern and well-maintained airport attracts customers, grows the airport, and creates continued success of the entire region. I have been a longtime advocate for delivering much-needed federal dollars to our Upstate NY airports to boost the region’s tourist economy and send our communities to new heights and thank Governor Hochul for her work to get started on much-needed modernization and infrastructure upgrades to help Central NY soar for years to come.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
The total estimated cost for the project is $28.5 million, which includes:
- Adding 4,700 square feet to the North Concourse
- Optimizing natural ventilation for improved air quality
- Installing dynamic window panels to increase natural lighting
- New lighting controls and sensors to reduce non-essential lighting during off-times
- High-efficiency building equipment to improve the airport’s sustainability
- Upgrades to the airport’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Federal Inspection Station (FIS) including installing the latest FIS equipment for international operations
- Replacement of a jet bridge
- Installation of a new elevator tower and baggage carousel
- Creation of an additional hold room and boarding space
- Installation of a wayfinding lighting control system
- Support for hearing-impaired passengers
There is no better example of the undeniable growth and progress our community is experiencing than the Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). As one of the fastest growing airports in the country, Executive Director Jason Terreri and his team knew that critical and substantial investments would have to be made in order to continue providing the high-quality passenger experience that SYR has become known for. Today marks the beginning of those enhancements with construction underway to expand the North Concourse and the expansion of the Federal Inspection Station Facility. This project required multiple partners, across multiple sectors, to come together and I want to thank everyone who helped make this a reality.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon
These new airport improvements will complement plans by Micron to invest up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years, constructing a cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing campus in Onondaga County.
According to the state, the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition was administered by the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) and was open to upstate commercial passenger service airports and airports providing specialized service for commercial aircraft and/or corporate jets.
Applicants were encouraged to apply for funding for a single project or a program of projects to help meet the demands of the 21st century. Each project was evaluated based on established criteria, including but not limited to innovation in design, passenger amenities and experience, operational efficiencies, and economic effectiveness for the airport’s region.
