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Ontario International Airport continued march toward full recovery in February as passenger count neared pre-pandemic level

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Ontario International Airport (ONT) welcomed almost 358,000 air passengers in February, more than twice as many as the same month last year and 98.5% of the total in February 2019 as the airport edged closer to full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ontario International Airport (ONT) welcomed almost 358,000 air passengers in February, more than twice as many as the same month last year and 98.5% of the total in February 2019 as the airport edged closer to full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Domestic travelers totaled nearly 347,000 in February, which was 131% higher than last year and 1% more than February 2019.

The number of international passengers was almost 11,000 last month, five times more than February last year, but nearly half as many as the same month in 2019.

Over the first two months of the year, ONT’s passenger volume totaled more than 697,000, an increase of nearly 130% compared with last year and 92% of the total number of travelers during January and February of 2019.

“Ontario International continues to set the pace for pandemic recovery among medium and large hub airports in California,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners. “While rising fuel costs and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine pose some uncertainty for air travel, we are confident that our aviation gateway will be a leader among airports nationwide when passengers return to more usual travel patterns.”

PassengerTotalsFeb.2022Feb.2021ChangeYTD2022YTD2021Change
Domestic346,998150,272130.91%670,249295,657126.7%
International10,8822,021438.45%27,3678,496222.1%
Total357,880152,293134.99%697,616304,153129.4%
PassengerTotalsFeb.2022Feb.2019ChangeYTD2022YTD2019Change
Domestic346,998343,2051.11%670,249712,482-5.9%
International10,88220,221-46.18%27,36747,150-42.0%
Total357,880363,426-1.53%697,616759,632-8.2%

Wapner also pointed to February’s strong growth in air cargo shipments in noting ONT’s appeal to freight shippers. Last month, ONT received nearly 61,000 tons of freight and mail combined, which was 18% more than the total tonnage in February 2019.

Over January and February, ONT cargo shipments totaled more than 129,000 tons, 15.8% more than the same period in 2019.

Air cargo(tonnage)Feb.2022Feb.2021ChangeYTD2022YTD2021Change
Freight56,48162,806-10.07%120,536133,353-9.6%
Mail4,3763,24634.82%8,9066,47137.6%
Total60,85766,052-7.86%129,442139,824-7.4%
Air cargo(tonnage)Feb.2022Feb.2019ChangeYTD2022YTD2019Change
Freight56,48149,15914.89%120,536107,40512.2%
Mail4,3762,127105.78%8,9064,413101.8%
Total60,85751,28618.66%129,442111,81815.8%

“Ontario International Airport delivers a first rate, hassle-free experience in our passenger terminals while providing spacious, modern facilities for our shipping partners and driving economic growth across the region,” Wapner said. 

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

Ontario International Airport awarded $2.5 million from FAA to reduce emissions, increase sustainability

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Greening the Gateway: Ontario International Airport Secures $2.5 Million from FAA for Sustainability Enhancements

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $2.5 million to Ontario International Airport’s (ONT) to further the popular Southern California gateway’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

The money is through FAA’s Voluntary Airport Low-Emission (VALE) Program and will be used to replace 22 Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) units – external heating, cooling and dehumidifying devices that control temperatures and keep jetways and planes comfortable when aircraft are parked at the gate. The units are connected to airport electrical power sources, eliminating the need for parked aircraft to use on-board auxiliary power units, which require jet fuel.  

The VALE funding comes two weeks after ONT received $4 million in FAA funding for its runway rehabilitation program. 

“We are deeply appreciative to the FAA and to Congresswoman Norma Torres, who has played such a critical role in securing funding for ONT as we meet the needs of this dynamic region we serve. The VALE Program funding will allow us to replace older PCA units with state-of-the-art, high energy-efficient models that reduce emissions and improve air quality,” said Alan D. Wapner, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. 

Since its return to local ownership in 2016, Ontario International has been a leader in promoting sustainable airport operations through its investment in energy-efficient infrastructure, the recycling of runway and construction materials, its fleet of zero-emission shuttle buses and its support of enhanced transit to and from the airport, among other things.

This year, ONT is on pace to exceed 7 million passengers, up 75% since 2016. ONT also ranks among the Top 10 cargo airports in the U.S.

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Travel & Tourism

Passenger count will be 11% higher over Labor Day weekend at Ontario International Airport

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Popular Southern California gateway experiencing greater demand with added flights to popular destinations over summer

The summer travel rush at Ontario International Airport (ONT) will conclude over Labor Day weekend with passenger volume up 11% over the same long holiday weekend last year, officials announced. The expected increase exceeds the Transportation Security Administration‘s prediction of an 8.5% increase nationwide.

Based on current schedules, airlines are offering more than 130,000 seats on arriving and departing flights between Thursday, August 29, and Monday, September 2, with more than 105,000 passengers traveling through ONT.

The busiest travel day at ONT is expected to be Labor Day Monday, September 2, with some 23,500 passengers.

“As this summer illustrates once again, Ontario International has become the airport of choice for millions of Southern Californians who are drawn to us by our convenience, routes and a travel experience they won’t get anywhere else,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners.

Said Atif Elkadi, OIAA chief executive officer, “We have enjoyed a great run of summer travel and we expect to end it on a strong note. We forecast 2.1 million passengers for summer travel beginning Memorial Day weekend and we anticipate our Labor Day weekend passenger count will help us reach our mark.”

Labor Day
Wknd 2024
Estimated
Passengers
Versus
2023
Total
Seats
Versus
2023
105,39511 %130,4137.4 %
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Travel & Tourism

Ontario International Airport awarded $4 million in FAA grants for runway, taxiway improvements

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Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) will receive another $4 million from the Federal Aviation Administration to invest in infrastructure improvements at the aviation gateway of choice for millions of Southern Californians.

The FAA announced on August 9 that it is awarding a total of $636 million to airports across the country, under its 2024 Airport Improvement Program. ONT’s portion – $4,090,060 – will be used for its ongoing runway and taxiway rehabilitation projects.

“We are deeply grateful for our partnership with the FAA, along with the unwavering support of Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., for providing the critical funding needed to enhance our runways, taxiways and infrastructure. Together, we are committed to creating the safest possible experience for our travelers and air carriers across the U.S.,” said Atif Elkadi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority.

The funding comes as Ontario International continues to outperform the industry as a whole while serving one of the most dynamic economic and population centers in the United States. This year, ONT is on pace to exceed 7 million passengers, up 75% since its return to local ownership in 2016. ONT also ranks among the Top 10 cargo airports in the U.S.

Nationally, the Airport Improvement Program funds a variety of projects such planning, airport safety improvements, airport development and airport noise compatibility.

“This $636 million investment helps airports across the Nation sustain and improve critical infrastructure to advance the safest, most efficient airport system in the world,” said FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Shannetta R. Griffin.

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