Commercial freight volume at Ontario International Airport (ONT) increased more than 20% in September while the number of air passengers rose to almost 200,000, reflecting a gradual recovery at the Southern California airport in recent months.
“Cargo continues to be a point of strength and pride for us as Ontario enjoys the fastest rate of growth among airports in the continental United States,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the OIAA. “And while passenger volumes remain significantly lower year-over-year, Ontario’s rate of recovery puts it third among US airports and first among airports in California.”
Since reaching its low point in air travel in April following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, ONT passenger volume has grown on a percentage basis every month between May and September, Thorpe added.
Delta Air Lines began twice-daily, nonstop service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport this month while international carrier Volaris is planning new service to Mexico City beginning in November.
Meanwhile, Ontario experienced a 22.5% gain in commercial freight volume in September, the sixth month this year of better than 20% growth, with shipments totalling more than 73,000 tonnes. On a year-to-date basis, freight volume was nearly 645,000 tonmes, almost 20% more than the January through September period in 2019.
