ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WINS AIR CARGO EXCELLENCE AWARD
Ontario, California (March 11, 2005) --- Ontario International Airport (ONT) won the “Air Cargo Excellence (ACE)” award for medium size airports in Air Cargo World’s survey of airports nationwide. Air Cargo World is a leading publication in the air cargo industry and presented its first ever ACE awards this year.
“This is exciting news for Ontario International Airport and Southern California’s inland region," said Kim Day, Los Angeles World Airports’ (LAWA) executive director. "Cargo in Southern California is expected to triple over the next 25 years. Ontario International is ideally situated as an airfreight center for Pacific Rim and European cargo, and is within 50 miles of the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors.”
The airports surveyed were divided into subcategories – 1 million or more tons, 500,000 to 999,999 tons, and 499,999 or less tons – and were rated by carriers, charter operators, integrators and forwarders. ONT scored above average in the areas of performance (fulfills promises and contractual agreements, dependable, prompt and courteous service, allied services including ground handling, trucking, etc.), value (competitive rates, rates commensurate with service level, value-added programs), facilities (apron, warehousing, perishables center, access to highways and other modes) and regulatory operations (customs, security, Free Trade Zone). ONT, which handles more than 500,000 tons of cargo each year, scored above 100 in all criteria with an overall score of 114.
Last year, ONT handled 605,132 tons of cargo, nearly a six percent increase from 2003. The airport is served by 12 major U.S. air freight carriers including Air Transport International, Airborne Express, Ameriflight, DHL, Empire Airways, Evergreen, Express Net, Federal Express, Kalitta Air, West Air, Union Flights, and United Parcel Service (UPS). UPS handles more than 70 percent of ONT’s cargo and operates weekly flights to China using a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft.
“LAWA invests millions of dollars into Ontario International to prepare it as a major air cargo gateway that will meet future demands," said Jens Rivera, ONT’s manager. "Several airport projects are completed or in progress to prepare Ontario for the anticipated growth in air cargo.”
In 2001, an outdated aircraft hangar at ONT was converted into a new facility for air cargo operations. The facility, complete with office spaces, a truck loading dock, and additional amenities, currently accommodates ONT’s growing belly cargo operations. Plans are now underway to further expand cargo operations at ONT by developing an international air cargo center at the airport. The proposed cargo center would be located on approximately 105 acres of underutilized land in the northwest quadrant of ONT and includes the former Lockheed Martin site, vacated in 1998, as well as a LAWA controlled aircraft parking area.
Infrastructure improvements include ONT’s $20.2 million taxiway extension project which was completed in 2003 and a $50 million runway reconstruction project scheduled to begin in May. Both projects will facilitate various aircraft movement and operations at ONT such as accommodating the Airbus A380 that will enter service in 2006 as the world’s largest aircraft.
ONT’s Master Plan is also in progress. The $6.5 million project will prepare and guide ONT’s growth over the next 30 years to effectively manage its share of the region’s air service demands, including cargo. The proposed Master Plan is in phase three of its development and once adopted, construction of new facilities will be discussed and phased according to demand.
ONT is located in Southern California’s vast “Inland Empire” region which includes San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. It is the center of a rapidly developing freight movement system that includes the airport, two railroads, four major freeways, and an expanding network of freight forwarders.
The airport is one of four owned and operated by LAWA, a Los Angeles City department that oversees an airport system in the nation’s second largest metropolitan area. The other airports owned and operated by LAWA are Los Angeles International, Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys.
