#United States #Ontario #Ontario Airport #Travel Growth #Memorial Day

Ontario International Airport Gears Up for Memorial Day Travel

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is bracing for a bustling Memorial Day weekend, anticipating more than 115,000 travelers, marking a 4.6% rise compared to the same holiday in 2024. With travel demand surging, thanks to new and enhanced service routes to both U.S. and international destinations, ONT is seeing significant growth in passenger numbers.

Increased Passenger Estimates and Service Expansion

The airport forecasts that the busiest travel days will be Friday, May 23, and Memorial Day itself, Monday, May 26. The anticipated passenger volumes tell a story of a busy weekend:

• - Thursday, May 22: 24,300 passengers
• - Friday, May 23: 25,315 passengers
• - Saturday, May 24: 20,396 passengers
• - Sunday, May 25: 19,552 passengers
• - Monday, May 26: 25,895 passengers

In response to this growing demand, airlines are offering more than 137,000 seats for the upcoming holiday, which signifies a 9% increase over last year. As travelers gear up for their summer adventures, ONT continues to evolve as a primary hub for air travel in Southern California.

Service to Major Destinations

This summer, ONT will see an expansion of flight options with new routes or added services to major cities such as Baltimore/Washington, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, New York JFK, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Taipei, and various locations in Mexico. These new offerings are designed to meet the escalating demand and provide travelers with more convenient options.

Atif Elkadi, the CEO of the Ontario International Airport Authority, remarked, “As we head into another record-setting summer travel season, ONT is proud to serve as Southern California’s fastest-growing and most convenient airport. We’re not just connecting travelers to more flights and more destinations than ever before; we’re connecting our community to the world.”

Promising Summer Ahead

The booming numbers do not stop at Memorial Day. Ontario International Airport is projected to handle approximately 2.2 million summer travelers, indicating a 1.7% increase from the previous summer. The upward trend is indeed promising, especially following a remarkable performance in 2024, where the airport recorded over 7 million passengers, representing a 10.2% rise over 2023 and a 27% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

This impressive growth has positioned ONT as the fastest-growing medium- and large-sized airport in California. Notably, passenger numbers have surged by 67% since 2016, the year the airport transitioned to local control from Los Angeles management.

The Core of Southern California's Travel Network

Recognized as California’s most favored mid-sized airport, ONT has earned accolades in J.D. Power's latest North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Strategically situated in the Inland Empire, approximately 35 miles east of Los Angeles, ONT serves as a full-service airport with nonstop flights to major hubs in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and Taiwan.

In summary, Ontario International Airport's preparations for the imminent Memorial Day weekend reflect not only the growth in air travel demand but also the continued investment in enhancing travel experiences for passengers. With an expanding network, ONT stands ready to serve and connect its community not just to national but also global destinations.

For more information, or to check flight schedules, visit www.flyOntario.com and follow them on social media at @flyONT on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.