Ontario Airport Passenger Volume Up More than 10 Percent in July
The number of commercial air passengers who traveled through Ontario International Airport (ONT) in July increased by more than 10 percent compared to July 2018, continuing a trend of strong, steady growth at the nation’s fastest-growing airport.
The total number of passengers grew to nearly 495,000, an increase of 10.4 percent. Almost 468,000 were domestic passengers while international travelers totaled nearly 27,000, increases of 10.1 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively, according to the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).
In July, Ontario Airport also surpassed the 3 million passenger mark for the year, a 7 percent increase over the first seven months of last year. From Jan. through Jul., domestic passenger volume topped 2.9 million, an increase of 5.4 percent over the same period a year ago while the number of international travelers grew by nearly 50 percent to more than 175,000.
“Ontario continues to be a magnet for commercial air service for domestic and international passengers in the greater Los Angeles area,” said Mark Thorpe, OIAA chief executive officer. “We are heartened by the positive responses of our customers to our ongoing efforts to create an appealing international aviation gateway for Southern California, one which meets the needs of business and leisure travelers alike.”
Air cargo shipments, meanwhile, grew modestly in July by nearly 2 percent to more than 64,000 tons. During the first seven months of the year, cargo volume totaled almost 429,000 tons, up 3.4 percent from the same period last year.
Alan D. Wapner, OIAA president said, “Along with our continued strong increase in passenger volumes, the steady growth in cargo reaffirms how important ONT is to our region’s economy. Having a great airport has helped the Inland Empire become a global center for e-commerce, and an emerging hub for healthcare, technology and advanced manufacturing – creating jobs and economic opportunity for the region as a whole."
