Syracuse airport wins international award for air-service development

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) says it has been recognized with the Routes Americas 2024 Award in the “Under 5 Million Passengers”category.

To be considered for this international award, an airport must be nominated by an airline, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) said in a release. A panel of international airlines then evaluates each airport’s accomplishments, airline partnerships, and promotion of their market.

The Syracuse airport doesn’t know which airline nominated it for the honor, Matthew Szwejbka, customer-experience manager with SRAA, tells CNYBJ in an email.

SYR edged out three other finalists in the category, according to the SRAA. The finalists included Abbotsford International Airport in British Columbia, Canada; Curaçao-Hato International Airport in Curaçao; and Aeropuerto Internacional de Querétaro in Querétaro, Mexico.

“It is an incredible honor to receive this award for our Air Service Development marketing activities at Syracuse Hancock International Airport,” Jason Terreri, executive director of SRAA, said in a release. “We strive to exceed our stakeholders’ expectations as a best-in-class airport, and I’d like to thank our airline partners and the Routes America Team for recognizing our efforts to best serve the air service needs of our region. I would also like to thank our team at the SRAA for working every day to elevate the passenger experience. Our success is a direct result of the incredible team that operates SYR.”

Terreri received the award in Bogotá, Colombia earlier this month on behalf of the airport.

The SRAA release indicated: “The airport enjoyed a record year in 2023, handling 2.8 million passengers, marking a 12% increase over 2022. It expanded its portfolio by adding two new routes, increasing service on existing routes and securing the reintroduction of flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul.”

Airlines were also asked to submit feedback supporting the nomination describing their partnership with SYR and the promotion the airport conducts of their market.

For example, Breeze Airways provided this feedback in the SRAA release: “I wanted to express our gratitude for the relationship our entire team has with your airport. We know that your airport has had lots of wins recently, but you’ve set the tone that even a small new entrant like Breeze gets first-class treatment. We have especially appreciated the dedicated responses to some of our in-depth rates and charges questions as well as in the implementation of very specific marketing plans. Thanks, and we look forward to continuing to build on service in your market.”