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A plan to modernize the baggage handling system at Syracuse Hancock International Airport is one step closer to reality, as the New York state Senate has included $25 million for the upgrade in its latest budget proposal. The airport’s current baggage equipment, installed in the 1980s, has struggled to keep up with record passenger growth—over three million travelers used the airport in 2024—leading to long wait times for luggage and delays during busy periods.
According to Syracuse.com, the new system would cost $100 million and feature high-speed conveyors that allow for faster delivery of checked bags to passengers and quicker loading for departing flights. Jason Terreri, executive director of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, explained that the existing system cannot handle the airport’s current demand, especially during early morning and late-night rushes. Passengers have reported waits of more than 40 minutes for their luggage.
The proposed upgrade would let multiple flights use the baggage system simultaneously and include shared automated screening for all airlines, which should reduce bottlenecks during peak travel times. The improvements are part of a larger $1.2 billion airport renovation that also includes terminal expansion, a new parking garage, and upgraded connections from parking to security checkpoints. These efforts aim to prepare the airport for projected growth linked to the arrival of Micron Technology and related businesses in the region.
While the Senate has backed the baggage system funding, the money was not included in Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal or the Assembly’s version, meaning negotiations are still underway as lawmakers work to finalize the state budget by Monday, April 1. In the meantime, Rep. John Mannion has secured $850,000 in federal funding to begin work on the new baggage system.
The project is part of a broader push to modernize upstate airports, supported by grant programs like the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, which awarded Syracuse Hancock International Airport $20 million in 2022 for customs facility upgrades and terminal expansion. According to the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, the upgrades are designed to meet both current and future demands as travel rebounds and regional economic growth accelerates.
Final funding for the baggage equipment upgrade depends on the outcome of ongoing state budget talks, but airport officials remain hopeful that the modernization will keep Syracuse Hancock International Airport ready for the next wave of travelers.