ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DAILY FLIGHTS INCREASE
Ontario, California --- (March 20, 2000) Ontario International Airport’s (ONT) 270 daily flights increased by four on March 12 when Southwest Airlines added one new daily nonstop flight to Nashville and one daily roundtrip service to Sacramento. The flights bring to ONT two new arrivals and two new departures. Southwest Airlines – ONT’s major carrier – handles more than 40 percent of ONT’s passengers.
"Southwest’s new flight to Nashville and additional flight to Sacramento reflect ONT’s growing passenger demand for nonstop service to the East Coast and additional service to Northern California," said Jens Rivera, ONT’s airport manager.
On June 3, ONT’s number of daily flights will increase again when Air Canada launches its new daily roundtrip service between ONT and Toronto, Canada. Air Canada plans to operate a 112-seat Airbus 319 aircraft at ONT’s Terminal 2 with United Airlines, its Star Alliance partner. Air Canada plans to pre-clear U.S.-bound passengers through federal inspection services in Toronto – a key factor in facilitating start-up at ONT.
Ten major airlines currently serve ONT including Alaska, Delta, Northwest, TWA, United and United Express in Terminal 2, and American, America West, Continental and Southwest in Terminal 4. In 1998, ONT served 6.4 million passengers. Last year, 6.5 million passengers flew through the medium-hub airport.
"The new flights are indicative of the expected gradual increase in passenger volume at ONT as a result of the opening of the airport’s new twin terminals in September 1998. Since the terminals opened, there has been a 2 percent average monthly increase in ONT’s passenger numbers. Our Facilities Planning Bureau at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) forecasts a 2.5 percent annual increase in ONT’s passenger volume, and it looks like we’re getting there," said Rivera.
ONT – located approximately 35 miles east of Los Angeles – is owned and operated by LAWA, which also owns and operates Los Angeles International, Van Nuys Regional and Palmdale Airports.
