Press Room

Posted on: Wed, 11/28/2018 - 11:16

Airport on pace to welcome more than 5 million fliers this year

(Ontario, California – November 28, 2018) – Steady gains in passenger and cargo volumes continued in October at Ontario International Airport (ONT), putting the Inland Empire airport on pace to welcome more than 5 million air travelers this year, the highest number in a decade.

Arriving and departing passengers totaled more than 455,000 last month, an increase of nearly 11% from October a year ago when 410,000 air travelers moved through ONT. The number included almost 434,000 domestic passengers, 8.3% higher than October 2017. And the number of international travelers more than doubled from 10,000 last October to more than 21,000.

“Ontario continues to prove itself an appealing alternative for air travel in Southern California since it is largely free of the congestion and restrictions of other local airports,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “With strong demand for air service, particularly in the Los Angeles area, airlines and air travelers are recognizing Ontario’s ability to deliver a hassle-free, customer-friendly experience.”

Southwest Airlines announced earlier this month it will launch service from ONT to San Francisco International Airport with four round trips a day beginning next June. Southwest will also add a third flight to Denver International Airport Monday through Friday. Delta Air Lines recently announced plans for daily service between ONT and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport beginning in April.

Over the first 10 months of the year, more than 4.2 million travelers passed through ONT, a 13% increase from the same period last year. The number of domestic passengers grew by more almost 12% to more than four million while international passenger volume climbed 54% to nearly 180,000.

Ontario last exceeded 5 million annual passengers in 2008 when air travelers totaled more than 6.2 million.

Ontario’s air cargo business also continued to grow at a double-digit pace -- more than 14% -- in October to 66,000 tons from 57,700 tons in October last year. From January through October, cargo volume grew to more than 610,000 tons from 520,000 tons over the same 10-month period a year ago, an increase of more than 17%. ONT sits in the heart of the largest outgoing freight market in the United States. According to a recent report by FreightWaves, the Ontario market has surpassed Atlanta for the No. 1 position.

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About Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is located in the Inland Empire, approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 19 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com.

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About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)

The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario Mayor Pro-Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).