Press Room

Posted on: Wed, 05/22/2019 - 05:54

More than 1.6 million fliers from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day will enjoy new services and amenities with same hassle-free experience

(Ontario, California – May 22, 2019) – Ontario International Airport (ONT) is poised to welcome more than 1.6 million air travelers this summer, an increase of 13.9% over summer last year.

Based on current flight schedules, an estimated 1,657,185 airline passengers will arrive and depart ONT from Friday, May 24, the start of the Memorial Day weekend, through the Labor Day holiday on September 2. Ontario handled 1,455,418 travelers during the same period in 2018, which was an increase of 14.5% over 2017.

“Travel demand is always brisk in Southern California, particularly so during the summer months, and passengers are increasingly choosing Ontario as their gateway airport,” said Mark Thorpe, CEO of the Ontario International Airport Authority. “We look forward to showing off all that our airport has become.” 

Named the fastest growing U.S. airport by a leading travel publication, ONT will continue to add new flights over the summer months:

• Delta Air Lines, which began daily, non-stop service to its Atlanta hub in April, will add a second roundtrip in June.
• United Airlines announced it will launch daily, non-stop service from ONT to Houston, the carrier’s headquarters, beginning next month.
• Southwest Airlines will offer four new daily flights to San Francisco and expand its current service to Denver.

Ontario’s 13.9% growth in summer travel is more than four times the expected increase nationally. According to Airlines for America, the trade organization for leading U.S. air carriers, 257.4 million passengers – an all-time record – are expected to travel between June 1 and August 31, a 3.4% increase from last summer.

Airline passengers have plenty to look forward to as they travel through ONT. Since last summer, the airport completed a more than $8 million upgrade of its dining and retail concessions which now include such popular brands as Einstein Bros bagels, Rock & Brews restaurant, Wahoo’s Fish Taco and Wolfgang Puck’s WPizza. Travelers can also access premium Escape Lounges in terminals 2 and 4 which began welcoming guests earlier this year. Free, high-speed wireless internet service is available throughout the airport.

Security screening areas will be equipped with new, state-of-the-art SecureTray bins manufactured with antimicrobial technology to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the surface of the trays. The sleek, ergonomically designed trays provided by Florida-based SecurityPoint Media, with germ-resistant technology developed by North Carolina-based Microban International, enable security screeners to quickly and efficiently identify passenger belongings in need of closer inspection.

Passengers who drive themselves to ONT can pre-book and save on parking through the airport’s homepage at FlyOntario.com. The web site includes Spanish and Mandarin-language translations. Curbside valet parking is available immediately in front of the passenger terminals.

Meanwhile, popular app-based ride hailing companies Uber and Lyft continue to serve ONT along with taxicabs, shared ride vans and limousines. Another ground transportation option is Omnitrans with service to ONT every 15 minutes, 7 days a week.

For the latest ONT-related information, passengers and guests can tune to ONT Radio at 620AM or listen online at FlyOntario.com.

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About Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. 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 with nonstop commercial jet service to 21 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 City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).