Ontario International Airport (ONT) experienced a 14.4% rise in passenger traffic in July 2024 compared to last year. The Southern California airport welcomed 666,322 travelers, marking its highest monthly total since transitioning to local ownership in 2016. This figure approaches ONT’s record of 693,000 passengers set in August 2007.
Domestic travel was a key driver of this growth, with 629,000 domestic passengers in July—a 16.7% increase from July 2023. The airport has now achieved 41 consecutive months of year-over-year passenger growth.
From January through July 2024, Ontario International Airport handled nearly 4 million passengers, reflecting an 11.6% increase over the same period last year. This includes 3.7 million domestic travelers, up 10.9%, and 270,000 international passengers, a 23% surge.
“Our year-over-year growth streak now stands at 41 months,” said Atif Elkadi, CEO of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “Airlines are expanding their capacity to meet the rising demand for air travel in the Inland Empire, a region that has seen substantial population growth. The continued rise in passenger volume is a testament to the airport’s strong appeal.”
The top airlines contributing to ONT’s passenger traffic in July were:
- Southwest Airlines: 33.7%
- Frontier Airlines: 17.6%
- American Airlines: 14.7%
- Delta Air Lines: 9.6%
- United Airlines: 7.7%
| Passenger Totals | Jul 2024 | Jul 2023 | Change | YTD 2024 | YTD 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 629,104 | 539,024 | 16.7% | 3,717,574 | 3,353,161 | 10.9% |
| International | 37,218 | 43,551 | -14.5% | 270,155 | 219,616 | 23.0% |
| Total | 666,322 | 582,575 | 14.4% | 3,987,729 | 3,572,777 | 11.6% |
Ontario also expands Cargo operations
In addition to passenger growth, Ontario International Airport saw an uptick in commercial freight, which rose by 11.8% in July to over 59,000 tons. Year-to-date, freight volume is up nearly 4%, exceeding 406,500 tons.
“Commercial freight volume climbed steadily in July, reinforcing ONT’s position as a preferred hub for shippers and cargo owners,” Elkadi added. More details on the airport’s operations and growth can be found on the Ontario International Airport’s official website.
| Air Cargo (tonnage) | Jul 2024 | Jul 2023 | Change | YTD 2024 | YTD 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freight | 59,179 | 52,911 | 11.8% | 406,561 | 391,342 | 3.9% |
| 3,583 | 3,448 | 3.9% | 19,133 | 31,173 | -38.6% | |
| Total | 62,762 | 56,359 | 11.4% | 425,694 | 422,514 | 0.8% |
