Travel & Tourism
ROUTE 66 CRUISIN’ REUNION® celebrates 7 years!

Classic Cars, Family Friendly, Live Music
ONTARIO, California (Tuesday, August 13, 2019) – Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion®, powered by the Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau, is prepared to welcome thousands of people for the 7th annual classic car show. The public is invited to attend Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion®, a two-day Cruisin’ Classic Car Show September 20-21, 2019.
This annual event, held on the third weekend in September, is free to the public and encompasses approximately twenty-two city blocks with cars and hot rods parking and cruisin’ for two days along the streets of historic downtown Ontario, California. This family friendly event is located on Euclid Avenue, near the Ontario Town Square, Ovitt Family Community Library, and Ontario City Hall located at 303 East “B” Street, Ontario, CA 91764. Last year Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion proved to be a huge success with over 200,000 car enthusiasts and spectators. Get ready to rumble Southern California – the Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion will be coming to town soon!
The line-up of live music entertainment includes
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019
5:00pm – 7:00pm: Euclid Avenue Median Stage near “G” Street will feature several bands from Rockstars of Tomorrow!
6:00pm – 10:30pm: Ontario Town Square will feature
Surf City All Stars
Susie and the Cruisers
Headline entertainment – Elvis My Way starring Brandon Bennett
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2019
10:00am – 7:00pm: Euclid Avenue Median Stage near “G” Street will feature several bands from Rockstars of Tomorrow!
5:30pm – 11:00pm: Ontario Town Square will feature
Lil Elmo and the Cosmos
US 99 Band
Headline entertainment – Foghat
A kid’s zone with rides, plenty of food and beverage locations, plus retail vendors will provide a fun day for the entire family while enjoying the beauty of classic cars!
About Route ’66 Cruisin’ Reunion
The Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion®, a 501-(c3) organization, created by the Greater Ontario Visitors & Convention Bureau, is a Southern California ultimate weekend celebration of America’s love affair with the automobile and its world-famous highway, Route 66. Two days of cruisin’, contests, live entertainment, fabulous food and revelry make it one of the best events of its kind. Held annually each September along historic, tree-shaded Euclid Avenue in Ontario, California, Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion is where classic cruisers, convertibles, hot rods, and wicked Woodies fuel a jam-packed jamboree. Visit www.Route66CruisinReunion.com for details.
About the Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization to promote the cities of Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga California to visitors nationally and internationally. As destination experts we provide groups and meeting professionals with an unbiased, comprehensive resource when booking a tour, convention, meeting or event within the cities of Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Ideal for leisure and business travel, the region boasts scenic mountains, deserts, vineyards and metropolitan areas that are both historic and cosmopolitan in character. Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau will provide the necessary destination tools to execute a successful experience. Visit GOcvb.org
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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