Cargo tonnage increased 11% at Southern California gateway

(Ontario, California – April 16, 2025) – The number of passengers who chose Ontario International Airport (ONT) rose for the 49^th straight month in March as the airport welcomed nearly 560,000 travelers.

The Southern California gateway’s passenger count totaled 559,619 last month, up 0.5% from March 2024. During the first three months of 2025, ONT welcomed almost 1.5 million air travelers, 0.6% higher than the same period in 2024.

“We are grateful for the continued confidence of our airline partners and passengers who make Ontario the airport of choice in Southern California,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “The continued increase in passenger volume comes as we prepare to welcome new flights and destinations this summer, further connecting our region to the world.”

Those new flight options include daily service to Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Chicago/O’Hare (ORD) on Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, respectively. New international service from STARLUX Airlines to Taipei (TPE) begins in June, while Volaris will offer flights to three additional destinations in Mexico starting in early July, including daily service to Los Cabos (SJD).

The air carriers with the greatest passenger shares in March were:

1. Southwest Airlines (39.0%)
2. American Airlines (16.8%)
3. Frontier Airlines (11.2%)
4. Delta Air Lines (9.0%)
5. United Airlines (7.5%)

Elkadi noted that airlines are increasing the number of seats on flights to and from ONT by 8% in April, a hopeful sign heading into spring and summer travel.

Meanwhile, Ontario saw strong growth in air cargo last month, increasing by 11%. From January through March, air cargo tonnage was 8.2% greater than the same period last year.

“Our first-rate cargo facilities continue to appeal to our shipping partners who benefit from our exceptional service, ample capacity, and favorable location at the center of Southern California.” Elkadi said.