June 30, 2020
(Ontario, California – June 30, 2020) – The number of commercial flights through Ontario International Airport (ONT) is expected to increase in July, the third straight month airlines will restore flights to their schedules at the Southern California airport.
Based on current airline schedules, ONT will have average daily departures of 44 in July, more than the 37 in June and 24 in May. While the number of July flights is approximately 38% lower than July last year, it represents a significant improvement since April when the global coronavirus pandemic led to sudden and dramatic decreases in passenger volume of 90% or more at airports around the world.
A noteworthy development is the resumption of Delta Air Lines’ nonstop service to its Atlanta hub.
“We are pleased to see demand for air travel returning and, while increases in recent months may be modest, we are encouraged by the emerging trend,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority. “Airports across the U.S. took a real gut punch in April, but we have worked hard at Ontario to maintain facilities and enhance many services with an eye toward the day when our customers resume more normal travel routines.”
To accommodate the return of passengers, Parking Lot 3 will reopen on July 1.
Thorpe reiterated that all customers, visitors and employees must wear appropriate face coverings while at ONT and onboard flights. The airport continues to utilize enhanced safeguards to keep facilities clean and germ-free, including frequent sanitizing of high-touch surfaces with highly effective disinfectant and security screening trays treated with powerful antimicrobial technology. Passengers are also reminded to wash hands with soap and water frequently and use the many hand sanitizing stations that have been added throughout ONT terminals.
In the meantime, Parking Lot 3 the summer drive-in movie series continues at ONT in July with showings of “The Sandlot” (July 3), “Princess Bride” (July 17) and “Napoleon Dynamite” (July 31). These movies are being shown in Lot 5 at the airport.
About Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 21 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com.
Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)
The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).
June 19, 2020
(Ontario, California – June 19, 2020) – As airlines begin to see increasing numbers of air travelers, Ontario International Airport (ONT) is poised to welcome travelers back to the airport with open arms – and a video showing many of the steps taken to help make their return safe and secure.
The one-minute video, which will appear on ONT social media platforms and in the airport’s terminals beginning today, provides a brief overview of the initiatives undertaken to keep facilities clean and reduce potential exposure to the coronavirus. The precautionary measures include:
- Installation of commercial kiosks which offer face covers, disposable gloves, disinfectant wipes and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Deep cleaning of public and employee areas of the airport, such as restrooms, lunchrooms and retail and dining concessions with high-powered disinfectant.
- More intensive efforts to sanitize high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, hand railings, counters and water fountains.
- Additional hand sanitizer stations positioned throughout the airport.
- Passenger screening trays treated with powerful antimicrobial technology to inhibit the growth of bacteria on tray surfaces remain in use at security checkpoints.
- Placement of appropriately spaced floor markers throughout the terminals to encourage proper social distancing.
Ontario also directed its contractor, Diverse Facility Solutions, to spray every surface of the airport nightly with a highly effective disinfectant using Protexus, a cordless electrostatic sprayer that charges a dilution of a 3M disinfectant product known to be effective against coronaviruses. The fine mist adheres to hard, non-porous surfaces as well as to soft surfaces such as fabrics and upholstery. The electrostatic charge causes the spray to attach to the surface bringing 360-degree, touchless disinfection and sanitizing capabilities. The product dries in 10 minutes.
“We recognize that as travelers return to the airport in greater numbers, they may have questions about the safeguards put in place to help reduce exposure to potentially harmful bacteria and viruses,” said Mark Thorpe, ONT’s chief executive officer. “Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have intensified practices for keeping passenger terminals clean, undertaken new initiatives to increase confidence among customers that they are safe in our airport and worked hard to prepare for the day when airline passengers return to more normal travel routines.”
About Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 21 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com.
Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)
The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).
June 18, 2020
ONTARIO, Calif., June 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In its ongoing effort to protect customers, visitors and employees from potential coronavirus infection, while adding a new level of convenience during what can be a particularly stressful time for passengers, Ontario International Airport (ONT) is making personal protective equipment available to those who travel through and visit the Southern California airport.
Face covers, disposable gloves, disinfectant wipes and alcohol-based hand sanitizer are available in self-service commercial kiosks located in both of ONT's passenger terminals. The first California airport to add PPE kiosks, ONT has instituted a wide variety of enhanced safeguards to keep airport facilities clean and germ-free, including ongoing sanitizing of all high-touch surfaces with highly effective disinfectant, additional hand sanitizers in passenger terminals and security screening trays treated with powerful antimicrobial technology.
"While the global coronavirus pandemic continues to impact virtually every aspect of life, we are taking steps to make essential travel safe by offering personal protective equipment to those who might forget to bring them from home or are unaware of new requirements," said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority.
"Air travelers should be vigilant about washing hands frequently, observe social distancing requirements and wear appropriate face coverings when visiting essential businesses such as airports, prudent sense measures which are highly recommended by public health officials to minimize coronavirus infections."
Public health officials strongly recommend a variety measures to avoid contracting and spreading coronavirus, including the use of face covers which are required by U.S. airlines to travel aboard commercial flights.
"The safety and well-being of our customers, employees and others who come to ONT remains our focus as society moves toward recovery and we look ahead to a return to more normal travel routines," Thorpe added.
About Ontario International Airport
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which, before the coronavirus pandemic, offered nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)
The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).
OIAA Media Contact:
Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527, slambert@flyontario.com
June 15, 2020
(Ontario, California – June 15, 2020) – Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) continued to see strong growth in commercial air freight in May as tonnage handled rose more than 24%, the third straight month of better than 20% gains, while the number of passengers who flew in and out of the airport declined by 85%, officials announced.
Ontario processed better than 81,000 tons of commercial cargo last month, 24.1% more than May 2019. From January through May, freight totaled more than 342,000 tons, up 18.3% over the first five months of last year.
“The global coronavirus pandemic continued to drive dramatic changes in cargo and passenger volumes as Southern Californians remained at home and relied on the e-commerce supply chain for many of their household supplies,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority. “At the same time, like airports across the U.S., we saw another month of significantly lower passenger volumes. Nonetheless, we are optimistic that passenger traffic will pick up in the coming months based on flight schedules published by air carriers.”
The increase in May freight shipments continued the run of significantly higher commercial cargo volume since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ontario experienced increases of 22% and 26% in March and April, respectively.
| Air Cargo (Tons) |
May 2020 |
May 2019 |
% Change |
YTD 2020 |
YTD 2019 |
% Change |
| Freight |
81,379 |
65,559 |
24.13% |
342,828 |
289,905 |
18.3% |
| Mail |
1,484 |
2,616 |
-43.26% |
7,518 |
11,808 |
-36.3% |
| Total |
82,863 |
68,174 |
21.55% |
350,346 |
301,713 |
16.1% |
Meanwhile, the pandemic continued to impact the number of air travelers at ONT, resulting in a decrease of 85.2% in May. For the month, ONT customers totaled 70,296, all of whom were domestic passengers. International flights remained suspended for the month.
From January through May, the number of ONT passengers totaled 1.2 million, 43% lower compared to the same period last year.
| Passenger Traffic |
May 2020 |
May 2019 |
% Change |
YTD 2020 |
YTD 2019 |
% Change |
| Domestic |
70,296 |
449,092 |
-84.35% |
1,143,422 |
1,994,713 |
-42.7% |
| International |
0 |
26,308 |
-100% |
64,060 |
121,968 |
-47.5% |
| Total |
70,296 |
475,400 |
-85.21% |
1,207,482 |
2,116,681 |
-43.0% |
“Our airline partners’ recent releases of their respective future flight schedules at our airport give us a growing sense of confidence that the worst of the pandemic’s impact on air travel is behind us,” Thorpe said. “Ontario, like all other U.S. airports, is doing everything in our power to weather these very turbulent times as we look forward to an equally strong recovery.”
About Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 21 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com.
Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)
The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).
Officials optimistic that worst of travel declines has passed
June 1, 2020
(Ontario, California – June 1, 2020) – Commercial air travel at Ontario International Airport (ONT) is showing signs of recovery for June based on published flight schedules, creating a sense of measured optimism among local officials that the worst of the unprecedented travel declines caused by the global coronavirus pandemic has passed.
According to current airline schedules, ONT will have an average 37 daily departures in June, a decrease of 46% compared with last June, yet a significant improvement over the 24 daily departures scheduled in May. The more than 50% increase in daily departures from May to June is a sign of encouragement for airport officials who have eagerly awaited indications that recovery is forthcoming.
“It may be too soon to say happy days are here again, but happier days might come earlier than some anticipated for ONT and our aviation partners,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority. “Since air travel volumes cratered virtually overnight in mid-March, we have scrambled to sanitize facilities, protect customers, visitors and those who work at the airport, and maintain payrolls. Needless to say, we are encouraged as airline bookings increase slowly but steadily and carriers restore flights accordingly.”
Thorpe also noted that all customers, visitors and employees must still wear appropriate face coverings while at ONT and onboard flights. The airport continues to utilize enhanced safeguards to keep facilities clean and germ-free, including frequent sanitizing of high-touch surfaces with highly effective disinfectant and security screening trays treated with powerful antimicrobial technology. Passengers are reminded to wash hands with soap and water frequently and use the many hand sanitizing stations that have been added throughout ONT terminals.
Nonstop service from ONT to seven destinations will remain suspended: Atlanta, Chicago (Midway), Dallas (Love Field), Houston (George Bush Intercontinental), New York (John F. Kennedy International), Orlando and Taiwan. Service to these destinations is tentatively scheduled to resume in July, according to future airline scheduled published this week.
About Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 21 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com.
Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)
The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario City Council Member Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).