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ONT Celebrates Hawaiian Airlines Announcement: Ontario, CA, to Honolulu in 2021

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Hawaiian Airlines will begin nonstop service into and out of Ontario Airport beginning in March

Hawaiian Airlines flying from Ontario International Airport (ONT) to Honolulu beginning in the Spring is welcome news for the Southern California gateway and the Inland Empire, and the latest sign that ONT continues to recover from the severe pandemic-driven downturn in global air travel.

Hawaiian Airlines will offer nonstop flights between ONT and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) five times a week beginning March 16 and 17 on the following schedules:

Flight #OriginDestinationDepartureArrivalFrequencyAircraft
74*HNLONT1:05 p.m.9:35 p.m.Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, SunA321
73**ONTHNL9:05 a.m.12:20 p.m.Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, SunA321

*Beginning March 16

**Beginning March 17

“We’re excited to be able to offer our community new nonstop service to Hawai’i. It’s one of the biggest requests we get from travelers, and I know it will be an extremely popular route,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners. “I want to thank Hawaiian Airlines for its support and confidence in Southern California’s fastest-growing aviation gateway.”

“We are delighted to bring our superior value proposition to travelers visiting Hawai’i from Ontario,” said Peter Ingram, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines. “2021 is going to be a special time to experience Hawai’i, and we can’t wait to welcome onboard our guests from Ontario and introduce them to our islands.”

Hawaiian’s guests will enjoy island-inspired complimentary meals and the superior comfort of the carrier’s quiet and fuel-efficient A321neo aircraft, which feature 16 luxurious leather recliners in First Class, 44 Extra Comfort seats, and 129 Main Cabin seats.

“We look forward to welcoming Hawaiian Airlines and their passengers in time for Spring Break and we are confident they will quickly feel that the aloha spirit extends to Ontario,” said Mark Thorpe, OIAA chief executive officer. “The aviation industry is taking note of the steady COVID-19 recovery we are experiencing at Ontario. As air carriers set schedules and routes for 2021, they are including Ontario in their own recovery plans, a great show of confidence in our low-cost gateway, high-quality services, facilities, and customer base.”

Ontario Airport has recorded six straight months of traffic growth since reaching its low point in April when passenger levels declined by 93%. Ontario’s recovery ranks first among airports in California and third nationally, having regained roughly 50% of passenger volume compared to a year ago.

Denver-based Frontier Airlines announced the addition of new flights and resumption of flights suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic between February and May in 2021. International carrier Volaris initiated nonstop service from ONT to its Mexico City base last month.

Delta Air Lines, which resumed daily, nonstop service to its Atlanta hub in July, began twice daily, nonstop flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in October. Southwest Airlines restarted its Chicago Midway International Airport route while United Airlines resumed flying to Houston’s George H.W. Bush Intercontinental Airport in August.

In order to add value and convenience for travelers, ONT hosts a drive-up testing site operated by the Covid Clinic which offers a variety of COVID-19 tests, including rapid tests with results available within 20 minutes. Tests are administered on Parking Lot 3 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week. Reservations can be made at online at the Covid Clinic.

The Inland Empire Business Journal (IEBJ) is the official business news publication of Southern California’s Inland Empire region - covering San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.

Travel & Tourism

New Global Entry Enrollment Center to open at Ontario International Airport as global travel continues to grow

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International travelers will no longer have to travel to Los Angeles to enroll in the popular program

Ontario International Airport (ONT) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Thursday unveiled the new Global Entry Enrollment Center at California’s most popular airport.

The new center is the sixth in California and will offer a convenient, local option for international travelers from the Inland Empire and nearby communities who wish to enroll in the popular program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Up until now, the nearest Global Entry Enrollment Center has been at Los Angeles International Airport.

“We are thrilled that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has selected ONT to serve as the site of its newest Global Entry Enrollment Center and look forward to helping residents across Southern California access this time-saving international travel amenity,” said Alan D. Wapner, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners. 

“The new center reflects CBP’s commitment to improving the customer experience as Global Entry continues to attract thousands of new applicants in the Greater Los Angeles area and neighboring communities,” said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “We are very pleased with this expansion which brings visitors to the area and helps boost the local economy.”

“Ontario International Airport is a valued asset for the Inland Empire. As your Congresswoman, I am proud to have supported this project and others like to ensure ONT – which sits in the heart of our district – can get people and cargo where they need to be quickly and efficiently,” said Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35).

Global Entry uses specialized processing technology and dedicated lanes to expedite clearance for arriving international travelers who have passed a rigorous background check and in-person interview. To set up an interview at the Global Entry Enrollment Center, travelers must first receive online pre-approval.

The Global Entry Enrollment Center comes as ONT has seen international travel volumes double over the past year, with popular direct flights to Taiwan, Mexico and Latin America. In October, ONT and CBP partnered to introduce another international travel amenity, Simplified Arrivals, which uses facial biometrics to automate the manual document checks required for admission into the country. The technology provides travelers with a touchless process that further secures and streamlines international arrivals. In 2022, the OIAA Board named the airport’s Federal Inspection Station and any future international terminal after U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who was a strong advocate for the airport’s return to local ownership.

“Ontario International Airport is proud to partner with CBP in providing an opportunity for our community to avail themselves of the Global Entry program,” said Atif Elkadi, OIAA chief executive officer “As we expand our international travel options, all CBP programs will play a significant role in providing a more expedited and safe inspection process and today marks the start of how our region has proven itself as a key gateway into Southern California.”

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Travel & Tourism

More than 600,000 passengers traveled through Ontario International Airport in October

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The highest total in a single month since return to local control

The number of air passengers who traveled through Ontario International Airport (ONT) in October topped 600,000 for the first time since the airport’s return to local ownership and was a 12% increase over the same month last year.

The total passenger count of 606,497 included 568,484 domestic and 38,013 international travelers, increases of 8% and 141%, respectively.

From January through October, ONT reported more than 5.3 million passengers; 4.9 million domestic fliers and 334,000 international travelers. The total was 11.6% higher than the same period last year.

Domestic travel volume was 8% higher over the first 10 months of the 2023 while the number of international passengers more than doubled. 

“Our robust passenger volumes are no surprise given population growth in our service area and the rising popularity of our world class gateway,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer, Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “Our airline partners and air travelers recognize the value of our airport, hallmark hassle-free experience and first rate amenities and services, making Ontario International California’s favorite airport.”

According to a recent Los Angeles Times report, “Riverside County gained 36,000 residents between July 2020 and July 2021, the third most in the country. San Bernardino County grew by 11,970 people, helping the IE overtake San Francisco to become the 12th largest metropolitan area in the U.S.”

PassengerTotalsOct2023Oct2022ChangeYTD2023YTD2022Change
Domestic568,484526,0048.08 %4,968,8614,598,7178.0 %
International38,01315,726141.72 %334,134152,529119.1 %
Total606,497541,73011.96 %5,302,9954,751,24611.6 %

Shipments of freight and mail totaled 60,798 tons in October, 11.3% lower than October a year ago. On a year-to-date basis, cargo registered 604,116 tons, 12% lower than the first 10 months of 2022.

Air cargo(tonnage)Oct2023Oct2022ChangeYTD2023YTD2022Change
Freight57,97064,449-10.05 %564,183642,044-12.1 %
Mail2,8234,134-31.59 %39,93345,229-11.7 %
Total60,79868,583-11.35 %604,116687,274-12.1 %

“The trend toward lower air cargo volumes remained through October,” Elkadi said. “While global economic forces are still impacting cargo volumes at U.S. airports, we remain confident that our shipping partners will continue to choose our Southern California gateway as volumes rebound.”

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Travel & Tourism

June was Another Record Month at Ontario International Airport

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Southern California gateway broke marks for both total passengers and international travelers

Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) set a record in June for passenger volume, welcoming more than 559,000 travelers and breaking a record set just a month earlier, officials announced.

The aviation gateway also recorded more than 37,000 international travelers, which was the most in a single month ever at ONT.

The total passenger count for June was 8.7% higher than June last year. The number of domestic passengers grew by 5% to 522,000, while international air travel more than doubled to 37,000.

The previous high for total passengers in one month since the airport’s return to local ownership in 2016 was recorded in May 2023, when 557,000 traveled through ONT.

Over the year’s first six months, total passenger volume was nearly 3 million, 12.4% greater than the first half of 2022. The passenger count included 2.8 million domestic travelers and 176,000 international passengers, increases of 9.5% and 94.4%, respectively.

“Since taking ownership of the airport our goal has been to create an international gateway for Southern California with the amenities, facilities and services befitting the region,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer, of Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “We couldn’t be more pleased that demand for air travel through Ontario remains strong, outpacing other California airports, driven by large increases in population and jobs across our region.”

Ten million Southern Californians live or work closer to ONT than any other airport, and eight of the 10 fastest-growing California cities with over 100,000 population are in ONT’s primary service area.

 

Passenger

Totals

Jun

2023

Jun

2022

Change

YTD

2023

YTD

2022

Change

Domestic

522,088

496,950

5.06%

2,813,917

2,570,272

9.5%

International

37,359

17,534

113.07%

176,238

90,677

94.4%

Total

559,447

514,484

8.74%

2,990,155

2,660,949

12.4%

Volumes of commercial freight and mail declined by 14% in June and 10% on a year-to-date basis, consistent with lower cargo volume globally which has been anticipated by industry analysts.

Air cargo

(tonnage)

Jun

2023

Jun

2022

Change

YTD

2023

YTD

2022

Change

Freight

57,410

67,525

-14.98%

338,431

380,612

-11.1%

Mail

4,260

4,479

-4.89%

27,725

28,107

-1.4%

Total

61,670

72,004

-14.35%

366,156

408,720

-10.4%

“Despite the slow-down in freight movement worldwide, Ontario International is a vital cog in the U.S. supply chain,” Elkadi said. “Our modernized and expanded cargo facilities remain key components for shippers serving Sothern California.”

 

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