OIA has solid first half of 2019

Ontario International Airport welcomed nearly 2.6 million passengers during the first half of 2019, a 6.5 percent increase compared with the first six months of last year, airport officials reported.

More than 2.4 million traveled within the United States, while the remaining 148,000 traveled internationally, year-over-year increases of 4.5 percent and 57 percent, respectively, according to the Ontario International Airport Authority.

In June, the airport’s passenger count was more than 477,000, an increase of 9.6 percent from June 2018. 

Domestic travelers grew 9.4 percent to more than 451,000. International passengers increased 12.6 percent, to more than 26,000.

“Ontario International Airport experienced significant growth in passenger volume during the first six months of the year, as airlines initiated new services to major airports in Atlanta, Houston and San Francisco and added flights to existing routes,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of authority, in a statement. 

Cargo volume was up 3.7 percent from January through June, to more than 364,000 tons compared with the same period last year.

In June, cargo shipments were essentially flat year-over-year, growing only 0.7 percent to nearly 63,000 tons, the authority reported.