ONT reports solid numbers for February

Ontario International Airport’s passenger count rose 15 percent year-over-year in February, another sign of the airport’s ongoing recovery from the pandemic.

Ontario International attracted nearly 413,000 passengers during the second month of the year – an estimated 391,000 domestic and 21,000 international – according to the Ontario International Airport Authority.

Domestic volume increased 12.75 percent, while international travelers nearly doubled compared with February 2022.

Passenger volume was up 20 percent in January and February compared with the first two months of last year, the airport’s governing body reported.

“Passenger growth remained strong in February,” said Atif Elkadi, the authority’s chief executive officer, in a statement. “The outlook for 2023 is encouraging based on industry data, and we expect Ontario International to maintain its position as one of the fasting growing airports in the United States.”

Ontario International ranks fourth among medium to large-size airports in the continental United States, having seen double-digit passenger growth so far this year compared with 2019, the last full year not impacted by the pandemic.

No other California airports made the top 10 among 65 airports, according to Airlines for America, a trade association.

Shipments of commercial freight and mail at Ontario International declined seven percent in February compared with February 2022, and eight percent year-to-date. Both drops were the result of lower consumer demand caused by higher interest rates, the authority reported.