Travel & Tourism
Nearly 4.5 million travelers through Ontario International in 2021 as airport’s pandemic recovery continued
Strong cargo numbers maintained airport’s position as major hub for commerce
Nearly 4.5 million airline passengers traveled through Ontario International Airport (ONT) in 2021, a remarkable feat compared with medium and large-size airports amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of ONT customers last year was 77% greater than 2020 passenger volume and 80% of 2019’s total.
At the same time, ONT continued to be a hub for commerce as cargo shipments remained strong at more than 890,000 tons, a decline of just 3.7% from 2020 when e-commerce demand was at its peak, and 14% higher than 2019.
“We saw encouraging signs of recovery in 2021 as demand for air travel neared pre-pandemic levels, and we look forward to welcoming more travelers as public health authorities continue efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus variants and airline passengers resume more normal travel patterns,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners.
During the month of December, passenger traffic which totaled more than 467,000 was 145% higher than December 2020 and 90% of the volume in the same month in 2019 – remarkable results given the number of flights canceled globally due to the spread of the omicron variant.
| PassengerTotals | Dec.2021 | Dec.2020 | Change | YTD2021 | YTD2020 | Change |
| Domestic | 450,327 | 198,779 | 146.38% | 4,373,219 | 2,443,042 | 79.0% |
| International | 16,824 | 7,755 | 116.94% | 123,373 | 95,440 | 29.3% |
| Total | 467,151 | 190,534 | 145.18% | 4,496,592 | 2,538,482 | 77.1% |
| PassengerTotals | Dec.2021 | Dec.2019 | Change | YTD2021 | YTD2019 | Change |
| Domestic | 450,327 | 485,086 | -7.17% | 4,373,219 | 5,279,722 | -17.2% |
| International | 16,824 | 29,703 | -43.36% | 123,373 | 304,010 | -59.4% |
| Total | 467,151 | 514,789 | -9.25% | 4,496,592 | 5,583,732 | -19.5% |
Wapner was bullish about ONT’s role as a leading hub for e-commerce in 2021 which experienced a double-digit increase in shipment volume over 2019 on a year-to-date basis.
“Our air freight partners continued to rely on Ontario International as a focal point in the distribution of consumer goods in Southern California,” Wapner said. “Our expansive, modern facilities remain attractive to our tenants and are a great public asset for the region.”
The Inland Empire airport recorded 97,500 tons of freight and mail in December, roughly equal to the same month in 2020 and 9.5% higher than December 2019.
| Air cargo(tonnage) | Dec.2021 | Dec.2020 | Change | YTD2021 | YTD2020 | Change |
| Freight | 92,068 | 93,959 | -2.01% | 839,955 | 898,525 | -6.5% |
| 5,459 | 3,662 | 49.06% | 50,428 | 25,635 | 96.7% | |
| Total | 97,527 | 97,622 | -0.10% | 890,383 | 924,160 | -3.7% |
| Air cargo(tonnage) | Dec.2021 | Dec.2019 | Change | YTD2021 | YTD2019 | Change |
| Freight | 92,068 | 88,228 | 4.35% | 839,955 | 760,045 | 10.5% |
| 5,459 | 832 | 556.49% | 50,428 | 21,948 | 129.8% | |
| Total | 97,527 | 89,060 | 9.51% | 890,383 | 781,993 | 13.9% |
Travel & Tourism
Ontario International Airport passenger volume exceeds pre-pandemic levels for second straight month in April
Traveler count grew 7% over 2019 level with domestic volume up 10%
The number of passengers who traveled through Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) in April was nearly 7% above the April 2019 total, beating pre-pandemic levels for the second straight month, officials announced today.
Total ONT passenger volume was almost 476,000 last month, 6.92% more than April three years ago. The number of domestic travelers increased by 9.65% to more than 461,000.
Passenger traffic increased by 4% in March compared with the same month in 2019.
“Demand for air travel through Ontario International remained strong in April as passengers took to the airways for spring break vacations and to visit friends and family for religious holidays. Ontario International was rapidly growing before the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is not a surprise that we’re among the quickest to recover,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners.
From January through April, total passenger volume was more than 1.62 million, within a percentage point of the total from the first four months of 2019. The number of domestic passengers was 1.57 million, an increase of 1.6%.
|
Passenger Totals |
April 2022 |
April 2019 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2019 |
Change |
|
Domestic |
461,300 |
420,699 |
9.65% |
1,571,080 |
1,545,621 |
1.6% |
|
International |
14,441 |
24,249 |
-40.45% |
56,300 |
95,660 |
-41.1% |
|
Total |
475,741 |
444,948 |
6.92% |
1,627,380 |
1,641,281 |
-0.8% |
|
Passenger Totals |
April 2022 |
April 2021 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2021 |
Change |
|
Domestic |
461,300 |
295,186 |
56.27% |
1,571,080 |
847,680 |
85.3% |
|
International |
14,441 |
3,598 |
301.36% |
56,300 |
14,748 |
281.7% |
|
Total |
475,741 |
298,784 |
59.23% |
1,627,380 |
862,428 |
88.7% |
Air cargo shipments also remained strong in April at 67,000 tons, 8.6% greater than April in 2019. On a year-to-date basis, shipments of freight and mail combined were 15.5% higher than the January through April period in 2019, at nearly 270,000 tons.
|
Air cargo (tonnage) |
April 2022 |
April 2019 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2019 |
Change |
|
Freight |
62,291 |
59,359 |
4.94% |
250,623 |
224,346 |
11.7% |
|
|
4,860 |
2,454 |
98.05% |
19,068 |
9,192 |
107.4% |
|
Total |
67,152 |
61,813 |
8.64% |
269,692 |
233,539 |
15.5% |
|
Air cargo (tonnage) |
April 2022 |
April 2021 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2021 |
Change |
|
Freight |
62,291 |
70,422 |
-11.55% |
250,623 |
278,143 |
-9.9% |
|
|
4,860 |
4,085 |
18.98% |
19,068 |
14,383 |
32.6% |
|
Total |
67,152 |
74,508 |
-9.87 |
269,692 |
292,526 |
-7.8% |
“Ontario International remains a point of pride as an increasingly popular passenger gateway in Southern California and attractive hub for e-commerce,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the OIAA. “With our growing customer base in the Inland Empire, support of our community neighbors and strong political will of our city and county leaders, I am confident Ontario International will continue to attract new and increased flights from passenger and cargo air carriers.”
Travel & Tourism
Ontario International Airport achieves milestone in March as passenger volume exceeded pre-pandemic level
March passenger total 4% higher than March 2019; cargo shipments up 22%
Ontario International Airport (ONT) officials had eagerly awaited a month in which passenger volume would be higher than the same month before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the wait is over as the Southern California airport welcomed 454,000 air travelers last month, 4% more than in March 2019.
“Ontario is setting the pace of recovery among airports in California and, as a result, it is an attractive metropolitan gateway for airlines restarting suspended services and establishing new routes as public health restrictions ease and demand for air travel increases,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners.
Domestic passengers totaled 439,531 last month, while the number of international travelers was almost 15,000, increases of 71% and 446%, respectively, compared with March of last year. The total number of ONT passengers was 75% higher in March.
Most importantly, domestic and international passenger volume combined was 3.97% higher in March compared with March 2019. Domestic travel increased more than 6.5% to 439,531 while international volume was 40% lower at 14,492.
“The March passenger numbers are a tremendous achievement for our airport and airline partners, launching Ontario International’s pandemic recovery to an even higher level. We can’t say for sure what the coming months will bring, but the March passenger count shows what full recovery looks like,” said OIAA Chief Executive Officer Atif Elkadi,
The emergence of ONT as an increasingly popular aviation gateway comes as the Inland Empire experiences a steady influx of new residents, particularly from the coastal areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties, drawn by employment opportunities, available housing and high quality of life. According to U.S. Census data, San Bernardino and Riverside counties have experienced the fifth-largest population gain among the top 50 metro areas in the U.S.
| Passenger
Totals |
March 2022 |
March 2021 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2021 |
Change |
| Domestic |
439,531 |
256,837 |
71.13% |
1,109,780 |
552,494 |
100.9% |
| International |
14,492 |
2,654 |
446.04% |
41,859 |
11,150 |
275.4% |
| Total |
454,023 |
259,491 |
74.97% |
1,151,639 |
563,644 |
104.3% |
From January through March, the number of passengers who traveled through ONT doubled compared to the same period last year. The first quarter figures were 3.7% lower than 2019.
| Passenger
Totals |
March 2022 |
March 2019 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2019 |
Change |
| Domestic |
439,531 |
412,440 |
6.57% |
1,109,780 |
1,124,922 |
-1.3.% |
| International |
14,492 |
24,261 |
-40.27% |
41,859 |
71,411 |
-41.4% |
| Total |
454,023 |
436,701 |
3.97% |
1,151,639 |
1,196,333 |
-3.7% |
Shipments of air cargo likewise remained strong in March compared with March 2019, increasing by 22%. On a year-to-date basis, shipments of freight and mail combined were 18% higher than the first quarter of 2019 as the Inland Empire continued to be a hub for commercial freight movement.
Compared to 2021, March and year-to-date cargo shipments decreased 6.5% and 7%, respectively.
| Air cargo
(tonnage) |
March 2022 |
March 2021 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2021 |
Change |
| Freight |
67,795 |
74,367 |
-8.84% |
188,332 |
207,720 |
-9.3% |
|
5,303 |
3,828 |
38.54% |
14,208 |
10,298 |
38.0% |
|
| Total |
73,098 |
78,195 |
-6.52% |
202,540 |
218,019 |
-7.1% |
| Air cargo
(tonnage) |
March 2022 |
March 2019 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2019 |
Change |
| Freight |
67,795 |
57,582 |
17.74% |
188,332 |
164,988 |
14.1% |
|
5,303 |
2,325 |
128.06% |
14,208 |
6,738 |
110.9% |
|
| Total |
73,098 |
59,907 |
22.02% |
202,540 |
171,725 |
17.9% |
Travel & Tourism
Ontario International Airport Authority appoints Atif Elkadi as Chief Executive Officer
Atif Elkadi has been selected as CEO of the Ontario International Airport Authority.
The Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners today voted unanimously to appoint Atif Elkadi as chief executive officer of Southern California’s premier aviation gateway, effective March 31, 2022.
Elkadi joined Ontario International Airport (ONT) in 2017 and has served as deputy chief executive officer for the past three years. His extensive background in airport operations, management and communications includes positions at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
“We’re fortunate to have someone of Atif’s experience and leadership as we continue our strong recovery from the pandemic and assert ourselves further as Southern California’s airport of choice. We have full confidence is his ability to lead our ONT team in serving one of the most dynamic population and economic centers in the U.S.,” said Alan D. Wapner, OIAA President and Mayor pro Tem of the City of Ontario.
Since its return to local ownership in 2016, ONT has become one of the aviation industry’s great success stories, with passenger volumes climbing more than 30% to a pre-pandemic peak of nearly 5.6 million. Over the past year, Ontario has posted one of the strongest travel recovery rates in the country and was named by Global Traveler magazine as the fastest-growing airport in the country for the third year in a row.
ONT also ranks among the Top 10 cargo airports in North America and is a critical hub for the movement of goods around the world.
“I am extremely grateful for the support of the OIAA Board of Commissioners, and the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary team of airport professionals. Together, we have the honor of serving one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, and I look forward to building on our role as a premier passenger airport, supply chain hub and economic driver for the Inland Empire and beyond,” Elkadi said.
Elkadi has 16 years of experience in the airport industry. Before coming to ONT, he served as senior corporate communications manager at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and managed internal communications, customer service communications and social media for Dubai International Airport.
A native of Napa, Elkadi holds a Master’s degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Elkadi is married with six children, and lives in Jurupa Valley.
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