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Ontario International Airport’s passenger count returned to near pre-pandemic levels in September.
The number of passengers who used the airport last month increased more than 132 percent compared with September 2020, nearly 97 percent of where it was before COVID-19, according to data released Tuesday by the Ontario International Airport Authority.
Ontario International accommodated more than 453,000 passengers last month, up from 195,000 in September 2020. That was slightly behind September 2019, when 469,000 passengers used the airport.
Domestic and international traffic increased 130 percent and 242 percent, respectively, last month. Compared with September 2019, those numbers were down one percent and 47 percent.
“Ontario International continues to be a bright spot in the aviation industry’s ongoing pandemic recovery,” said Supervisor Curt Hagman, an airport authority commissioner. “We have the benefit of a broad and loyal customer base along with the ability to provide a hassle-free customer service experience.”
More than 70,000 tons of freight and mail passed through Ontario International last month, down 9.4 percent year-over-year but 15.4 percent higher than September 2019, the airport authority reported.
