Travel & Tourism
Ontario International Airport passenger volumes continued to soar in September, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 10%
More than 500,000 travelers flew into or out of ONT for a 5th straight month
Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the seventh straight month in September as passenger volumes continued to climb to levels not seen since 2007, airport officials announced.
Nearly 517,000 air travelers flew into or out of ONT during the month, 10.15% more than the same month in 2019. It marked the fifth consecutive month in which passenger volumes exceeded a half million, and moved Ontario closer to a possible 6 million passengers by year’s end. The September total also represented a 6,000-passenger increase over August – typically a peak month for air travel.
“Ontario International continues to prove itself as the airport of choice for millions of Southern Californians. The double-digit increase in passenger volume last month reinforces the important role we play in meeting the air travel needs of one of the most robust population and economic centers in the country,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners and Mayor pro Tem of City of Ontario.
Through the first nine months of the year, ONT welcomed 4.2 million passengers – 3.6% more than the same period in 2019 and 37.6% above last year. At this pace, the airport should well exceed the 5.6 million passengers who flew into or out of ONT in 2019 – the last full year before the pandemic. According to Ontario’s seat capacity projections for the next six months, nonstop flights are expected to increase by 1.6% over the October 2019-March 2020 time period, nonstop seat capacity is projected to rise by 7.9%, and available seat miles (ASMs) are projected to increase by 11.4%.
This continues an impressive trend that began with the airport’s return to local ownership in 2016. During those first three years – before COVID-19 disrupted air travel globally – ONT experienced a nearly 33% increase in passenger volumes.
“We’ve been able to pick up where we left off before the pandemic, increasing flights and destinations and providing travelers with amenities and a customer experience they won’t get anywhere else,” said Atif Elkadi, OIAA CEO.
|
Passenger Totals |
Sep 2022 |
Sep 2019 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2019 |
Change |
|
Domestic |
502,540 |
446,169 |
12.63 % |
4,072,713 |
3,838,865 |
6.1 % |
|
International |
14,405 |
23,155 |
-37.79 % |
136,803 |
223,889 |
-38.9 % |
|
Total |
516,945 |
469,324 |
10.15 % |
4,209,516 |
4,062,754 |
3.6 % |
|
Passenger Totals |
Sep 2022 |
Sep 2021 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2021 |
Change |
|
Domestic |
502,540 |
440,947 |
13.97 % |
4,072,713 |
2,980,026 |
36.7 % |
|
International |
14,405 |
12,227 |
17.81 % |
136,803 |
79,186 |
72.8 % |
|
Total |
516,945 |
453,174 |
14.07 % |
4,209,516 |
3,059,212 |
37.6 % |
The September numbers also underscored Ontario’s role as a global logistics hub. Shipments of air cargo totaled more than 70,000 tons during the month, 14.4% higher than the same month in 2019. Last month’s tonnage was essentially flat when compared with September a year ago.
For the first nine months of the year, air cargo volume was more than 618,000 tons, 11% more than the same period in 2019.
|
Air cargo (tonnage) |
Sep 2022 |
Sep 2019 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2019 |
Change |
|
Freight |
65,831 |
59,918 |
9.87 % |
577,554 |
539,062 |
7.1 % |
|
|
4,196 |
1,271 |
230.12 % |
41,059 |
18,221 |
125.3 % |
|
Total |
70,027 |
61,189 |
14.44 % |
618,613 |
557,283 |
11.0 % |
|
Air cargo (tonnage) |
Sep 2022 |
Sep 2021 |
Change |
YTD 2022 |
YTD 2021 |
Change |
|
Freight |
65,831 |
66,380 |
-0.83 % |
577,554 |
609,952 |
-5.3 % |
|
|
4,196 |
4,269 |
-1.71 % |
41,059 |
34,426 |
19.3 % |
|
Total |
70,027 |
70,649 |
-0.88 % |
618,613 |
644,378 |
-4.0 % |
“Ontario International cargo shipments showed strong growth in September and on a year-to-date basis compared with 2019 as our shipping partners continued to show confidence in our airport as a commercial hub for Southern California,” said Ron Loveridge, vice president of the OIAA board.
Travel & Tourism
More than 600,000 passengers traveled through Ontario International Airport in October
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.”
| PassengerTotals | Oct2023 | Oct2022 | Change | YTD2023 | YTD2022 | Change |
| Domestic | 568,484 | 526,004 | 8.08 % | 4,968,861 | 4,598,717 | 8.0 % |
| International | 38,013 | 15,726 | 141.72 % | 334,134 | 152,529 | 119.1 % |
| Total | 606,497 | 541,730 | 11.96 % | 5,302,995 | 4,751,246 | 11.6 % |
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) | Oct2023 | Oct2022 | Change | YTD2023 | YTD2022 | Change |
| Freight | 57,970 | 64,449 | -10.05 % | 564,183 | 642,044 | -12.1 % |
| 2,823 | 4,134 | -31.59 % | 39,933 | 45,229 | -11.7 % | |
| Total | 60,798 | 68,583 | -11.35 % | 604,116 | 687,274 | -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.”
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% |
|
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.”
Airline resumes flights at pre-pandemic frequency with larger aircraft
China Airlines will fully restore daily round-trip service between Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) and Taipei beginning March 26, 2023, ONT officials announced.
The return of daily service connecting ONT and Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) marks a major milestone in Ontario’s recovery of international air service, all of which was suspended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly three years ago.
“We have eagerly awaited the resumption of daily service between Ontario and Taiwan,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “This exciting development is a testament to the demand for long-haul international travel from the Inland Empire and the exceptional service provided by our global gateway.”
After suspending service in March 2020, China Airlines resumed ONT-TPE flights in June 2021, gradually increasing service levels as demand returned. The resumption of daily service occurs at the same time that China Airlines marks its five-year anniversary at ONT.
The first carrier to offer nonstop, transoceanic passenger service to ONT after its transition to local ownership, China Airlines will upgrade the aircraft operating the route from an Airbus A350-900 to a larger Boeing 777-300ER, increasing seat capacity from 306 to 358 across premium business, premium economy and economy classes. The service is also scheduled to provide customers with seamless one-stop connections to additional destinations throughout Asia.
TPE is the primary international gateway to northern Taiwan’s more than 9 million residents, while ONT is the closest and most convenient international gateway airport for more than 10 million Southern California residents in San Bernardino, Riverside, northern Orange and eastern Los Angeles counties.
Domestic air travel through ONT surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2022, a milestone achieved by few other airports in California.
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