ONT marks seven years of local control

Ontario International Airport celebrated seven years of local ownership on Nov. 1 at its annual State of the Airport event.

More than 500 business leaders and other local dignitaries gathered at the Ontario Convention Center to hear how Ontario International became the fastest-growing airport in the United States during the past five years.

“We took local control seven years ago, and so much has happened since then, and it’s all because of you,” Alan Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority’s  Board of Commissioners, told the crowd.  “Ontario International Airport is your airport. It was you – this community and you community leaders – who insisted that Ontario be returned to local control.”

International travel has more than doubled in the past year, with daily flights to Taiwan, Mexico and El Salvador. Ontario International also offers nonstop flights to a large number of major airports like New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, and Phoenix.

Ontario International will have accommodated six million passengers by the end of this year, its highest yearly passenger count since 2008, according to a statement.

“A year ago, we gathered here at the Ontario Convention Center to celebrate six years of local ownership,” said Atif Elkadi, the airport authority’s chief executive officer. “Twelve months later, we’re celebrating 100 years since the opening of the first landing strip of what was to become Ontario International Airport. Yes, we are now a century old – and we’ve never looked better,”