Passenger counts continued to grow at Ontario International Airport in March

Posted on: Wed, 04/16/2025 - 10:45

Cargo tonnage increased 11% at Southern California gateway

(Ontario, California – April 16, 2025) – The number of passengers who chose Ontario International Airport (ONT) rose for the 49th straight month in March as the airport welcomed nearly 560,000 travelers. The Southern California gateway’s passenger count totaled 559,619 last month, up 0.5% from March 2024. During the first three months of 2025, ONT welcomed almost 1.5 million air travelers, 0.6% higher than the same period in 2024.

Passenger Totals	Mar 2025	Mar 2024	Change	YTD 2025	YTD 2024	Change
Domestic	520,938	515,940	1.0%	1,370,143	1,353,930	1.2%
International	38,681	41,060	-5.8%	114,808	122,552	-6.3%
Total	559,619	557,000	0.5%	1,484,951	1,476,482	0.6%

“We are grateful for the continued confidence of our airline partners and passengers who make Ontario the airport of choice in Southern California,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “The continued increase in passenger volume comes as we prepare to welcome new flights and destinations this summer, further connecting our region to the world.”

Those new flight options include daily service to Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Chicago/O'Hare (ORD) on Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, respectively. New international service from STARLUX Airlines to Taipei (TPE) begins in June, while Volaris will offer flights to three additional destinations in Mexico starting in early July, including daily service to Los Cabos (SJD).

The air carriers with the greatest passenger shares in March were:

Southwest Airlines (39.0%)
American Airlines (16.8%)
Frontier Airlines (11.2%)
Delta Air Lines (9.0%)
United Airlines (7.5%)

Elkadi noted that airlines are increasing the number of seats on flights to and from ONT by 8% in April, a hopeful sign heading into spring and summer travel.

Meanwhile, Ontario saw strong growth in air cargo last month, increasing by 11%. From January through March, air cargo tonnage was 8.2% greater than the same period last year.

Air cargo (tonnage)	Mar 2025	Mar 2024	Change	YTD 2025	YTD 2024	Change
Freight	56,407	58,107	-2.9%	159,436	168,799	-5.5%
Mail	10,955	2,576	325.3%	31,584	7,820	303.9%
Total	67,361	60,683	11.0%	191,020	176,618	8.2%

“Our first-rate cargo facilities continue to appeal to our shipping partners who benefit from our exceptional service, ample capacity, and favorable location at the center of Southern California.” Elkadi said.

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About Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is California's most popular mid-sized airport, according to J.D. Power's most recent North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which offers nonstop commercial jet service to two dozen major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram

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 leaders include Ontario Mayor pro Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Treasurer) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).

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