Board approves budget designed to boost commercial flight activity
June 29, 2021
(Ontario, California – June 29, 2021) – Summer travel is looking up at Ontario International Airport (ONT) as the Southern California gateway approaches near pre-pandemic passenger volume and begins the new fiscal year with a responsible budget plan designed to attract more commercial flight activity.
Based on current flight schedules, there will be 437 flight departures a week in July from ONT, 87.4% of departing flights in July 2019 when there were 500 outbound flights a week. There will be more than 64,000 seats on the July flights, 90.8% of the 70,600 seats in July 2019.
And as Ontario International’s recovery pace accelerates, the airport will enter Fiscal Year 2022, which begins July 1, with an operating expense budget of $73.3 million. The fiscal plan adopted by the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners anticipates passengers returning to ONT at near pre-pandemic numbers in the coming months and includes lower landing fees and terminal rent for airlines.
- Landing fees for passenger airlines will be reduced in FY22 to $1.71 per thousand pounds of landed weight, down from $1.84 in Fiscal Year 2021 and $1.98 in pre-pandemic Fiscal Year 2020.
- Terminal facility fees will remain unchanged in FY22 at $99.38 per square foot per year compared to the pre-pandemic rate of $109.86 per square foot.
“The Board approved a fiscally sound plan for the new budget year which maintains ONT’s position as a low-cost gateway, attractive to airlines and other users, and that ultimately benefits air travelers who are accustomed to our hassle-free, high quality customer experience,” said Alan D. Wapner president of the airport Board of Commissioners and Mayor pro Tem of the City of Ontario.
“Since the transition of Ontario International to local control in 2016, we have taken the steps necessary to create a first-rate aviation gateway and a valuable public asset for the Inland Empire. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global air travel, ONT is well-positioned to resume its pre-pandemic position as one of the fastest growing airports in the U.S.”
Eleven airlines operating at ONT are offering nonstop service to 25 destinations this summer, six more than the summer of 2019, including Charlotte, Chicago (O’Hare International) Honolulu, Houston (William P. Hobby Airport), Mexico City and San Salvador.
Air travelers, greeters and other ONT visitors are reminded that face coverings are still required in public transit areas including airport terminals and onboard aircraft.
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 bullish about summer travel
June 17, 2021
(Ontario, California – June 17, 2021) – Passenger volume at Ontario International Airport (ONT) in May was nearly 80% of its pre-pandemic level, another encouraging sign as the popular Southern California airport prepares to welcome greater numbers of travelers over the summer.
Data released by the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) show nearly 367,000 airline passengers traveled through ONT last month, which was 77.2% of ONT’s passenger volume in May 2019. Compared to May 2020, last month’s passenger total was 422% higher.
The May report continues a steady climb in passenger volumes heading into the summer travel season. Ontario officials anticipate more than 1.4 million passengers from the beginning of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, recovering nearly 88% of the 1,657,185 passengers who arrived and departed ONT during the comparable period in 2019. That represents one of the fastest recovery rates in the United States.
"We continue to be enthusiastic about the pace of recovery at Ontario International and we are equally optimistic about volumes over the summer as air travelers rediscover the many advantages of arriving and departing our airport." said Mark Thorpe, OIAA chief executive officer. “ONT continues to set the pace for recovery among California airports in rebounding from the severe downturn in air travel following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Today, airlines serving ONT offer nonstop service to 25 destinations including six new ones – Charlotte, Chicago (O’Hare International Airport), Honolulu, Houston (William P. Hobby Airport), Mexico City and San Salvador.
| Passenger Totals |
May 2021 |
May 2020 |
Change |
YTD 2021 |
YTD 2020 |
Change |
| Domestic |
355,648 |
70,296 |
405.93% |
1,203,328 |
1,143,422 |
5.2% |
| International |
11,289 |
0 |
NA |
26,037 |
64,060 |
-59.4% |
| Total |
366,937 |
70,296 |
421.99% |
1,229,365 |
1,207,482 |
1.8% |
|
| Passenger Totals |
May 2021 |
May 2019 |
Change |
YTD 2021 |
YTD 2019 |
Change |
| Domestic |
355,648 |
449,092 |
-20.81% |
1,203,328 |
1,994,713 |
-39.7% |
| International |
11,289 |
26,308 |
-57.09% |
26,037 |
121,968 |
-78.7% |
| Total |
366,937 |
475,400 |
-22.82% |
1,229,365 |
2,116,681 |
-41.9% |
|
Air freight shipments declined 20% in May to 65,000 tons compared to May last year but were flat – at 343,000 tons – from January through May compared to last year. However, freight was 18% higher over the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2019.
| Air cargo (tonnage) |
May 2021 |
May 2020 |
Change |
YTD 2021 |
YTD 2020 |
Change |
| Freight |
65,124 |
82,039 |
-20.62% |
343,266 |
343,488 |
-0.1% |
| Mail |
3,955 |
1,484 |
166.49% |
18,338 |
7,518 |
143.9% |
| Total |
69,078 |
83,523 |
-17.29% |
361,605 |
351,006 |
3.0% |
|
| Air cargo (tonnage) |
May 2021 |
May 2019 |
Change |
YTD 2021 |
YTD 2019 |
Change |
| Freight |
65,124 |
65,559 |
-0.66% |
343,266 |
289,905 |
18.4% |
| Mail |
3,955 |
2,616 |
51.20% |
18,338 |
11,808 |
55.3% |
| Total |
69,078 |
68,174 |
1.33% |
361,605 |
301,713 |
19.9% |
|
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).