Meet The Winners: Syracuse Hancock International Airport

Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), winner of the Routes Awards Under 5 Million Passenger category, discussed what it meant to receive the award during Routes Americas 2024 in Bogota and the strategy that led to its success.

The New York airport saw a 12% growth in passenger numbers during 2023, reaching over 2.8 million passengers and surpassing its previous record set in 2019. Through strong partnerships with nine airlines and a strategic approach to route development, SYR connects to 26 domestic destinations.

By aligning the needs of its catchment area and taking a regional approach to market prioritization, SYR has enhanced the success and sustainability of its services, with 11 routes in 2023 seeing increased annual departures. The airport’s focus on fitting within airline strategies has led to success with the introduction of LCCs and positive community responses.

Looking ahead, executive director Jason Terreri told Routes that securing hub connectivity is a target, while SYR also aims to enhance nonstop leisure connectivity to meet regional traveler demand.

A significant development for the airport is the decision by semiconductor company Micron to invest $100 billion in Clay, New York, located about 8 mi. away from SYR. The business plans to build the largest semiconductor fabrication facility in U.S. history, creating nearly 50,000 jobs.

With notable success over the past year and more anticipated, SYR was crowned the winner of the Under 5 Million Passenger category at the Routes Americas 2024 Awards in Bogota. Terreri said: “We were thrilled to have been nominated, but to win was just incredible. It’s been really exciting to see all the hard work and changes we made come to fruition.”