Ontario International Airport — a popular alternative airfield for Southland travelers — recorded its 44th consecutive month of year-over-year passenger increases with its busiest October ever, while air cargo volume jumped by almost 32%, officials announced Monday.
The mid-sized Southern California gateway reported 642,853 travelers in October, 6% more than October last year. The total included 609,773 domestic passengers and 33,080 international customers. The number of domestic travelers was 7.3% higher while the international count was 13% lower than a year ago, according to the airport.
On a year-to-date basis, ONT welcomed 5.8 million passengers, nearly 11% more than the same period in 2023. The number of domestic fliers totaled 5.5 million and international travelers numbered 368,849, increases of 10.9% and 10.4%, respectively. The airport remains on pace to welcome more than 7 million passengers this year, according to ONT.
“The Inland Empire is a business hub for the region with a growing population base and the word is out that Ontario International Airport is the airport of choice in Southern California,” said Atif Elkadi, CEO of the Ontario International Airport Authority.
Air cargo volume — freight and mail combined — increased nearly 32% in October to 79,986 tons, which Elkadi attributed to greater e-commerce activity before the year-end holidays and some shippers shifting ocean freight to air transport.