The ongoing efforts to revitalize Syracuse Hancock International Airport will bring new economic opportunities to the city, an official from a Syracuse economic development agency said.

The $48 million project, which will include the installation of a new facade, terminal flooring and furniture, an aviation museum, a glass pedestrian bridge and a new roof, started in October 2017 and is expected to completed by this fall.

“We are very pleased to see that this investment and the key infrastructure for our community and for our region,” said Kevin Schwab, vice president of external affairs and vice president of air service development at CenterState CEO.

Schwab said the Syracuse airport applied for competitive funding through New York state and received $35.8 million. Having a new airport will benefit Syracuse, central New York and other upstate areas, Schwab said. He said airports are the front doors to what a city has to offer.

“We have 2 million passengers a year that go through Hancock airport,” Schwab said. “The first impression that an airport makes says a lot about the community.”

He said he hopes the new renovations will attract new businesses, prospective clients and families to the area.

Allegiant Air, a discount airline, announced in March that it will offer direct non-stop service from Syracuse to Orlando starting in May, according to Syracuse.com.

Schwab also said the new renovations will bring more new flights to the area. Currently, some new flights include destinations such as Minneapolis and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Syracuse residents have mixed opinions on the airport renovations and what they could bring to the local community. Since the beginning of renovations, one of the airport’s terminals has been closed. Richard Zack, a man who picked up his mother at the airport last week, said he was worried she may have gotten lost there.

“She’s going to get confused when she gets off, but hopefully when the renovations are done it is going to be a lot better than it should be,” Zack said.

Zack said it was the second time he has been to the airport since the renovations started in October.

Amie Lucia, a Syracuse resident, said she’s excited about the renovations and they have not affected her travel plans.  

Charles Regal, a Hertz driver, said the renovations have made it harder for him to pick people up around the airport. Regal added that he was skeptical about the airport’s potential economic impact.

Schwab, though, said improvements to the airport will have a positive economic impact on the region in the long term and improve utilization of airport space.

“It is very important to the region when you have an airport, and the impression that it makes (is also important). Those that are bringing business to this region, it sends a message … it certainly encourages an additional investment,” Schwab said.

Published on March 18, 2018 at 10:22 pm

Contact Bianca: bmoorman@syr.edu