Ontario International Airport Picks Up First Nonstop Service to New York
Ontario, California (June 8, 2000) --- JetBlue Airways – an east coast-based airline that flies a brand new fleet of Airbus 320 airplanes equipped with in-flight satellite television at every seat, single-class seating, wider seats, and bigger overhead bins – announced today that it will launch daily nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Ontario International Airport (ONT).
Scheduled to begin service on July 21, JetBlue’s new flights from JFK depart at 8:15 p.m., arriving at ONT at 10:45 p.m. From ONT, the ‘red eye’ flights will depart daily at 11:30 p.m., arriving at JFK at 7:40 a.m. the following day.
"This is ONT’s first-ever nonstop service to New York," said Jens Rivera, ONT’s airport manager. "It is significant because other airlines will take notice of the new service, it will serve the demand that ONT passengers have long been waiting for, and it is indicative of Los Angeles World Airports’ (LAWA) continuing efforts – under the leadership of LAWA Executive Director Lydia Kennard – to attract more carriers to ONT. "
JetBlue’s fares between New York and Ontario will start at $99 one-way. Fares will not have advance purchase requirements but seats will be limited and early reservation is recommended. JetBlue offers ticketless travel, all fares are one-way, and a Saturday night stay is not required.
"It’s an exciting time for ONT. On June 5, Air Canada started daily service to Toronto, Canada – our first international flight since 1993. Delta Airlines and TWA recently added daily flights to Atlanta and St. Louis, respectively. In March, Southwest Airlines added a daily flight to Sacramento and began new daily service to Nashville. It’s clear that LAWA’s efforts to bring new and additional service to ONT are paying off," said Rivera.
Eleven major airlines currently serve ONT including Air Canada, Alaska, Delta, Northwest, TWA, United and United Express in Terminal 2, and American, America West, Continental and Southwest in Terminal 4. Six and a half million passengers flew through the medium-hub airport in 1999. According to LAWA passenger forecasts, ONT’s passenger volume is expected to increase by 3 percent annually. When ONT’s passenger count reaches 10 million annual passengers in two consecutive years, discussions will begin on the construction of another terminal.
"LAWA, the Los Angeles city department which owns and operates ONT, Los Angeles International, Van Nuys, and Palmdale Airports, has prepared ONT to play a significant role in the air transportation system as a major domestic and international gateway to Southern California," added Rivera.
ONT is located approximately 35 miles east of Los Angeles in the City of Ontario. The airport is conveniently situated in Southern California’s Inland Empire region encompassing San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
