Syracuse airport anticipates uptick in holiday travelers this year

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) on Wednesday cited improved data from October for its expectation of a rise in travelers at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) this holiday season despite the continuing pandemic.

SRAA says both traffic levels and air service are increasing at the Syracuse airport. For example, it attracted 21 percent more travelers in October than in September.

The return of Allegiant’s (NASDAQ: ALGT) nonstop service to Punta Gorda, Florida this month as well as the return of Frontier’s nonstop service to Fort Myers and Tampa in December “bode well for continuing the upward trend in passengers,” SRAA contends. It didn’t offer a forecast for how much air traffic would likely increase this holiday season.

As passenger-traffic levels continue to slowly rebound, airlines have modified — “and continue to modify” — their flight offerings. The SRAA “strongly encourages” all travelers to check the status of their flight directly with their airline.

Virus protection

“With health at the forefront of travel concerns,” the SRAA says it has implemented numerous mitigation efforts at the airport to combat the spread of COVID-19.

They include hospital-grade misting systems for the custodial team to clean and disinfect all seating areas throughout the airport.

Those efforts also include UV-C upper room units in high-traffic areas such as the security checkpoint and arrival locations “reducing the risk” of airborne disease transmission, and UV-C units in the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) air-handling units to help circulate purified air throughout the airport.

The airport also has escalator handrail sanitizers “continuously” using UV-C light to disinfect all escalator handrails.

In addition, travelers will see signage throughout the airport encouraging social distancing when possible, the wearing of masks, and use of hand-sanitizing stations placed throughout the terminal.