Press Room

Posted on: Tue, 02/18/2020 - 01:00

Fastest growing U.S. airport continues run of robust gains to start 2020

(Ontario, California – February 18, 2020) – Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) welcomed more than 450,000 passengers in January, an increase of nearly 15% over the same month last year and the seventh straight month of double-digit gains for the nation’s fastest-growing airport.

“While many airports might experience a post-holiday slow down or simply have little or no room to grow, Ontario continued its run of strong, steady gains in January,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “Airlines and air travelers continue to show tremendous confidence in Ontario’s facilities, services and amenities, not to mention the first-rate, hassle-free customer experience we strive to provide every day.”

Ontario began 2020 with more than 454,000 arriving and departing passengers last month, a 14.7% increase over the 369,000 who used the airport in January a year ago. Domestic travelers totaled more than 423,000 while almost 31,000 were international passengers, nearly identical increases of 14.7%, respectively.

At the same time, commercial freight also continued to rise. The more than 61,000 tons handled in January was a 4.7% increase over January last year. Mail shipments, meanwhile, declined 30%.

In 2019, ONT was named the fastest-growing airport in the U.S. for the second year in a row by Global Traveler, a highly respected industry trade journal. Ontario also is the No. 1 airport in the U.S. for outgoing cargo.

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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 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 72 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com.Follow @flyONT on Facebook, 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 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).