Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) has continued on its strong trajectory last month, with another double-digit passenger growth figure recorded.
In August, the airport experienced a substantial 11% increase in passenger volumes compared to the same month the previous year.
This sound growth was further reinforced by a second record for monthly international passenger uplift at ONT.
A Booming August
During the month of August, Ontario International Airport welcomed over 567,000 passengers. Among these, 527,000 were domestic fliers, marking a 6% increase from August 2022.
Additionally, the airport recorded a staggering 40,000 international travelers during the same period, nearly tripling the number from the previous year.
Notably, this marked the second time in history that ONT had the privilege of hosting more than 40,000 international travelers in a single month, following the remarkable milestone of 43,000 international passengers in July.
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Impressive Year-to-Date Growth
ONT’s success is not confined to a single month; it extends throughout the year. On a year-to-date basis, Ontario International Airport has surpassed an impressive 4 million total passengers, signifying a 12% increase over the same period the previous year.
This growth is particularly remarkable in the domestic travel sector, which saw an 8.7% increase, reaching 3.8 million travelers. International travel experienced even more dramatic growth, more than doubling to nearly 260,000 passengers.
OIAA CEO Comments
Atif Elkadi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA), shared his thoughts on this remarkable achievement, saying,
“Demand for air travel through Ontario International remained strong in August and for the year, outpacing growth at other California airports, while consumer confidence in our facilities, services, and amenities was equally strong.”
“Our mission is to deliver a world-class international gateway for Southern California, and the data shows we are living up to our promise.”
Cargo Challenges
While passenger volumes continue to soar, the airport did face challenges in its commercial cargo sector. In August, cargo shipments declined by 12.9%, and this trend persisted, with an 11.6% decrease in cargo volume over the first eight months of the year.
These declines are attributed to global economic issues impacting cargo volumes at airports across the United States.
A Bright Future
Despite these challenges, Elkadi expressed confidence in ONT’s modern and top-notch cargo facilities. He eagerly anticipates the return of cargo volumes to historical growth patterns, asserting that Ontario International Airport will continue to be the premier gateway for Southern California.
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 offers nonstop commercial jet service to nearly two dozen major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan.
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