Ontario International Airport in Southern California reached pre-pandemic passenger numbers during March. Airport officials had long awaited the month that would surpass 2019 numbers, and March 2021 had a 4% increase over March 2019.
Busier days ahead
As health restrictions ease and travel continues to rebound worldwide, it is becoming normal to see headlines of airports getting close to reaching 2019 passenger numbers and even surpassing those numbers.
ONT had a total of 454,000 passengers transit through its airport in March. Of the 454,000, 439,531 were domestic passengers, and international passengers totaled about 15,000, an increase of 71% and 446% compared to March of last year. Cargo numbers also increased during March in comparison to 2019, increasing by 22%.
"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." - Atif Elkadi, Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Chief Executive Officer
Ontario International Airport is located in the Inland Empire in Southern California. A significant factor causing the airport's growth is the increase in residents moving to the Inland Empire, many from Los Angeles and Orange counties. High quality of life, housing, and employment opportunities are drawing residents to the areas surrounding ONT and have resulted in San Bernardino and Riverside counties experiencing the fifth-largest population gain among the top 50 metropolitan areas of the United States.
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About ONT
According to Global Traveler, Ontario International Airport is the fastest-growing airport in the United States. In December 2021, the airport was the fastest growing for the fourth consecutive year. Located about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, ONT is one of the area's four alternative airports to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Los Angeles metropolitan area has a total of five airports that serve commercial airlines, Los Angeles International Airport, Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Long Beach Airport (LGB), John Wayne Santa Ana Airport (SNA), and Ontario International Airport (ONT).
Before the pandemic, ONT offered passengers nonstop flights to 26 major airports in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and Taiwan. Of this list, one destination in particular sticks out like a sore thumb, Taiwan. The Los Angeles area already has LAX, which has flights to Taiwan, so it is highly irregular that ONT had a flight to such a high-profile destination. Before the pandemic, China Airlines operated daily flights from Taiwan to Ontario. In August of last year, the airline was only operating two flights per month to ONT because of COVID travel restrictions. But as restrictions continue to ease, China Airlines hopes to resume its service to the Los Angeles alternative in San Bernardino County.
As operational costs continue to increase at LAX, airlines seek alternative options in the Los Angeles area. Ontario is quickly emerging as a great alternative. It has already attracted Frontier Airlines, who last year announced that it would be suspending operations at LAX due to increasing operational costs. Over the last few fiscal years, ONT has reduced operating costs, which has attracted airlines to the Inland Empire Airport.
Simple Flying has reached out to the ONT Airport and will update the story if any comment is received.
Source: Global Traveler