SoCal gateway also reported 4% more passengers and 12.7% gain in freight in first quarter of 2026

(Ontario, California – April 23, 2026) – Passenger volumes at Ontario International Airport (ONT) increased for the fourth consecutive month in March while shipments of commercial air freight gained more than 15%, airport officials announced. Over the first quarter of the year, passenger volume was 4% higher and air freight tonnage increased by 12.7%.

The Southern California gateway welcomed 574,819 passengers last month, 2.7% more than in March last year. The number of domestic and international travelers totaled 514,777 and 60,042, respectively. International travel surged by 55.2%.

Through the first three months of the year, ONT served more than 1.5 million passengers, 4.1% more than the first quarter in 2025. Domestic passenger volume was almost unchanged at 1.3 million, and international travelers increased 58.4% to 181,854.

“Our continued passenger growth in March is a direct reflection of the confidence our airline partners and passengers have in ONT and in our team’s commitment to delivering a high-quality experience every single day,” said Atif Elkadi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).

“While the outlook for the rest of the year carries some uncertainty, particularly with rising fuel costs, we’re not standing still. We’re working hand-in-hand with our airline partners to protect what matters most: reliable schedules, strong service levels, and the experience our travelers have come to expect from ONT.”

Passenger Totals	Mar 2026	Mar 2025	Change	YTD 2026	YTD 2025	Change
Domestic	514,777	520,938	-1.2%	1,364,485	1,370,143	-0.4%
International	60,042	38,681	55.2%	181,854	114,808	58.4%
Total	574,819	559,619	2.7%	1,546,339	1,484,951	4.1%

Air carriers with the greatest passenger shares in March were:

1. Southwest Airlines (37.5%)
2. American Airlines (17.2%)
3. Alaska Airlines (10.2%)
4. United Airlines (9.5%)
5. Delta Air Lines (8.6%)

 

Air cargo, including commercial freight and U.S. mail, grew by 11.6% in March. Freight was up by 15.3%, while the mail was 7.5% lower.

On a year-to-date basis, cargo tonnage rose 9.2% to more than 208,000 tons, with freight up by 12.7%. Shipments of mail declined by 8.6%.

Air cargo (tonnage)	Mar 2026	Mar 2025	Change	YTD 2026	YTD 2025	Change
Freight	65,056	56,407	15.3%	179,702	159,436	12.7%
Mail	10,137	10,955	-7.5%	28,860	31,584	-8.6%
Total	75,193	67,361	11.6%	208,562	191,020	9.2%

 

“The continued monthly double-digit growth in air freight activity is gratifying and bodes well for Ontario International’s growing contribution to the economic impact of our airport in the region,” Elkadi said.