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Syracuse Airport Preparing For A Busy Summer Syracuse Airport Preparing For A Busy Summer

By Tamar Turner

Alexandria: Over 200 million people are expected to travel out of the Syracuse Hancock International Airport this summer. NCC’s Tamar Turner is there to tell us about safety measures that will be taken.

Tamar: Thank you, so I’m here inside the Syracuse Hancock International Airport and despite what you may see or may not see for that matter Syracuse is expecting this to be one of their busiest summers in years. Over 263 million passengers as well as crew are set to take flight this summer. So, with all that in mind how is the airport preparing to make sure that passengers still make the most of their travel experience?

Passengers flying from Syracuse-Hancock International are being encouraged by TSA officials to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled flight. This is to account for all of the activity that will be going on throughout the airport, which has already broken its record for single-screenings in one day at nearly 2.8 million. But they don’t believe it will stop there. Additionally, passengers are advised to check-in before arriving to the airport and even apply for trusted travel programs like TSA Pre, Global Entry or NEXUS. TSA has been monitoring the screenings since Memorial Day weekend and will continue up until Labor Day weekend.

Lisa: It’s part of our ongoing public awareness campaign and as such we have staff just like these folks here at four airports across the state including this one three days a week typically early in the morning when the airports are the busiest.

Tamar: Now I talked to a couple of TSA officials earlier and despite today not being a fast-paced day, they told me that they are prepared to work twice if not three times as hard to ensure that passengers are able to not only make it through security, make it to their checkpoint but also make it to their destination safely and in one piece. Reporting live from Syracuse Hancock international Airport, I’m Tamar Turner. Back to you in the studio.

By Tamar Turner Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Transportation Security Administration is calling for a 4 % increase in passengers getting screened this year, in comparison to last year.

If you look at the numbers, they are expecting 10 million more passengers than last summer and they have already set a new record for the highest number of passengers and crew screened in a day. Last year, Syracuse ranked 89 out of 427 airports.

TSA expects a busy summer for travelers going through the upstate airport. Upstate New York Federal Security Director Bart Johnson is urging passengers to take even more precautions to ensure the best travel experience possible.

“We want all travelers to be prepared for an active airport and to follow the guidelines of TSA in order to get in and out smoothly,” said Johnson.

Passengers are being instructed to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled flight time and check in ahead of time to eliminate any trouble at the gate.

In addition to a busy summer,  New York residents should also expect to enhance their driver’s license or purchase a REAL ID if they want to fly anywhere in the United States starting October of next year. REAL IDs and enhanced driver’s licenses can be purchased at the New York Department of Motor Vehicles for $30.

Executive Director of Syracuse Hancock International Airport Jason Terreri says these new IDs are to increase efficiency and safety.

“Part of the reason this new system has been put in place is to prevent anything like 9/11 from ever happening again, so we need everyone on board,” said Terreri.

All travelers are being advised to take advantage of the summer and get their IDs now so that they won’t be scrambling as the deadline approaches.

 

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