Syracuse airport to use federal funding for expenses as it prepares for spring-break travelers

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) will use more than $5 million in federal pandemic-relief funds as it prepares for what it calls an “expected increase” in spring-break travelers.

The funding is available through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, the office of U.S. Representative John Katko (R–Camillus) said in an announcement Thursday.

The $5 million will provide economic relief for costs related to airport operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt-service payments, and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.

It will also provide economic relief from rent and minimum annual guarantees to on-airport car rental, on-airport parking, and in-terminal concessions.

“This funding will support the airport’s efforts to protect travelers and staff from COVID-19 and ensure it is able to continue operating as a hub for residents, tourists, and businesses. The funds will also be used to support in-terminal concessions and other local businesses who experienced hardship during this ongoing crisis,” Katko said.

No more domestic quarantine

Passenger traffic has been down about 73 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels for most of the first three months of 2021, but an announcement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this month is “expected to change that,” the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) said in a separate announcement on Wednesday.

It indicated that domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering the state starting April 1.

The removal of domestic-travel restrictions for New York 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 the Syracuse airport.

“After a tough year enduring this global pandemic, many Central New York families are ready to travel,” Jason Terreri, executive director of Syracuse Hancock International Airport, said in a statement. “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, SRAA said. This allows travelers enrolled in TSA’s expediated screening program to have an “even faster option” through the security checkpoint.

Additionally, the SRAA is preparing for near-term projects. The airport plans to begin a “massive,” multi-month rehabilitation project on its main east-west runway (runway 10-28) in late April.