SYRACUSE, NY -– The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) has announced tips for travelers flying out of Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) for winter break. Most local school districts begin their winter break on Friday, February 17th.
From Friday, February 17th through Sunday, February 26th, the airport is expecting just over 50,000 passengers to board flights at SYR. This represents a 10% increase in travelers over the same period last year. Saturday, February 18th and Saturday, February 25th are projected to be the busiest days during this stretch with over 5,400 and 5,500 daily departing passengers expected, respectively.
“With more airline options than ever before, we’re excited to see so many people using SYR as the gateway to their winter break getaway,” said SRAA Executive Director Jason Terreri. “Our team has been hard at work curating an exceptional airport customer experience and we look forward to helping vacationing families start their journey on the right foot.”
Travelers who intend to park their vehicle at the airport are encouraged to prebook their parking on the airport’s parking page. Please note that prebook parking spaces represent only a portion of the overall parking capacity at the airport. Airport patrons who are unable to prebook their parking are encouraged to monitor the near-real time parking lot status updates on the same webpage.
Local Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials remind travelers to arrive to the airport two hours prior to their scheduled departure. This is especially important during the busy departure windows of 4:30 am – 6:00 am, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, and 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Travelers will notice increased local offerings in the airport gift shops, bars, and restaurants. Local favorites from Battle Tested BBQ Sauce, Chocolate Pizza Company, Sprague’s Maple Farms, and many others make great last-minute gifts to bring to loved ones. Local beer and wine are available for purchase at bars and restaurants throughout the airport. Many fresh food and beverage options are now available 24 hours a day, including the new fresh vending machine located in Terminal B near Gate 22, the autonomous Costa Coffee Smart Cafes located in both Terminal A and Terminal B, and the autonomous Yo-Kai Express Ramen machines located both pre- and post-security checkpoint. Learn more about shopping and dining at SYR here.
Volunteers from the airport’s Pets Easing Travelers (PET) Program will conduct increased therapy dog visits to the airport during the winter break stretch. Travelers can also expect to see representatives from the volunteer Fly Guide Ambassadors Program guiding customers around the terminal.
To learn more about the 29 destinations served by nonstop flights from SYR, please visit the airport’s Destinations Page.