LA/Ontario International Airport Picks Up New Service to Bellingham, Washington on Western Airlines Beginning January 18

(Ontario, California - January 12, 2007) Travelers using LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) can fly nonstop on Western Airlines to Bellingham, Washington starting Jan. 18. Western will fly a 150-seat Boeing 737-400 aircraft four times a week. The airline will focus on attracting leisure travel from the Seattle area and British Columbia to Ontario.

Western's first flight to ONT will arrive at 9:45 a.m. on Jan. 18 and depart for Bellingham International Airport (BLI) at 10:35 a.m. Western, a public charter based in Bellingham, is a low-cost provider of nonstop flights from BLI to popular destinations in the western United States. Western's fleet is comprised entirely of fuel-efficient Boeing 737-400's.

"We are very excited about Western's new Bellingham flights," said Jess Romo, ONT's manager. "The new service offers added convenience to our travelers, will stimulate competition and benefit the local economy. ONT is located in one of the fastest growing regions in the United States with an air service market comprised of 3.5 million travelers."

Nine major airlines currently operate at ONT with domestic flights to many U.S. cities and international flights to Mexico. ONT is a medium-hub airport servicing 7.2 million passengers a year with room to accommodate up to 12 million a year. "The airport plays a critical role in Southern California's regional air transportation system," added Romo. "While other Southern California airports are limited in growth and development, ONT has infrastructure in place to accommodate growth, capacity for future expansion, and a supportive pro-growth community."

ONT is located in Southern California's "Inland Empire" region that includes San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The airport is one of four owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (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 (LAX), LA/Palmdale Regional (PMD) and Van Nuys (VNY).