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Syracuse Hancock International Airport is set to undergo significant changes in 2026, with construction already underway on several major improvement projects.
The most substantial upgrade will be a $60 million consolidated rental car facility, scheduled to begin construction in March. "Coming up in 2026, the biggest one is going to be our consolidated rental car facility... to relocate all the rental cars into a single facility," said Jason Terreri, Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Executive Director.
Following the rental car consolidation, the airport will focus on cargo development and the installation of a new baggage handling system. The baggage system upgrade represents a significant investment, with $850,000 in federal funding recently signed into law by President Donald Trump to help replace equipment installed in the 1980s. The complete system will cost approximately $100 million and feature high-speed conveyors to expand capacity and deliver bags faster to travelers.
These improvements build upon the airport's 2025 terminal expansion, which created additional gate space and more dining options for travelers. The expansion is part of a broader $1.2 billion renovation project that eventually aims to add 19 new gates, a new parking garage, and a direct route from parking to TSA security.
Air service at Syracuse Hancock has also grown recently. United Airlines added a second seasonal flight to Denver, while American Airlines expanded service to Miami, creating easier connections to Central and South America. Delta Air Lines will increase service this summer with a fourth daily flight to Atlanta and additional capacity to Minneapolis.
Airport officials highlight the facility's economic importance to the region. "For 2025, we contributed roughly $1.2 billion to the local economy, and within that, from a job perspective, just over 61 hundred jobs are attributed to the airport and what we do," Terreri noted.
Despite the positive outlook, the aviation industry faces challenges in 2026. John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist at Airlines for America, points to ongoing issues: "Everyone cross country is dealing with inflation, building materials, labor costs, some air space constraints since there are parts of the country, I think those are the real challenges."
The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority remains focused on improving the traveler experience while supporting regional economic growth through these infrastructure investments.