Ontario, California Becomes A Rising Star For International And Domestic Travel

The Ontario International Airport saw a huge increase in travelers going through its terminals. Ontario International Airport saw a 3.7% increase in passengers compared to last year. This positive jump seems to indicate a bright possibility for the year 2026 for the airport. It is the first positive jump that Ontario International Airport has reported in 10 years. “The Ontario International Airport is the first community airport within the last decade that has reported growth, development, and improvement year after year,” said Steven Planes, marketing manager for Ontario International Airport.
The Ontario Airport Authority reported a total of 493,000 travelers to have traveled through the airport in January of 2026, as opposed to 475,239 in January of 2025. This was primarily due to the increase in passengers in the international travel sector, therefore creating a new record.
Record-Breaking International Travel
Year after year, international travel has consistently increased, and in January of 2026, it increased by 64%, in total making the international traveler count 66,281. This was also the new record for the international travelers count, thus surpassing the previous record of 2025.
The airport leadership noted the increase in overseas travel as a sign of positive development of global connections for Ontario. The airport has opened services to Mexico, Central America, and Taiwan, reinforcing its position as a major gateway for the Inland Empire and the entire Southern California area. Officials noted the sustained need for international travel as leisure travel and business travel, as well as the strong demographic connections of the region to international markets.
While domestic travel slightly decreased, it was still strong. In January, more than 426,000 domestic travelers used the airport, which was a slight 1.9% decrease from the previous year. Still, this slight decrease alongside the increase in international travel means this January is one of the busiest the airport has seen in the last 10 years, marking a strong recovery from the dip caused by the pandemic.
A Decade of Steady Growth
They pointed out that from 2016, travel has increased by almost 70%, and this showed the transformation of the airport into a preferred option over bigger regional hubs. The airport is located 35 miles from Los Angeles and has positioned itself as a more convenient option to travelers who prefer shorter check-in lines and faster access. In January, leadership stated that they were hopeful for the next few years, as 2025 had over 7.1 million annual passengers. They also said that January was another month that followed that same trajectory. Management spoke of a pattern from the last few years of investments made in customer services, upgrades to the terminal, and improvements to relations with the airlines that created a positive image of Ontario to travelers.
The last several years have shown a positive image of Ontario to travelers. This year, Ontario was listed as 1 of the 10 most loved mid-sized airports in North America in the North America Airport Satisfaction Study by J.D. Power.
North America Airline Market Share by Passenger Volume
January had a majority of its passengers from Southwest Airlines at 34.6%. They were followed by American Airlines at 15.6%. Alaska Airlines made up 10.9% of the passengers, while Delta had 9.1% and United had 8.7%.
January also saw the start of new daily direct flights via Alaska Airlines from Ontario to Boise, Idaho. Airline officials stated that the strategy of expanding point-to-point connections remains effective and is especially valuable for destinations that attract both business and leisure travelers. They believe new connections provide more travel choices to customers and strengthen the airport’s competitive position within the travel marketplace in Southern California.
Continued Growth in Air Cargo
Positive growth was also seen in air cargo services in addition to passenger travel. Total air cargo in January went up 5.5% from January 2022 to 66,840 tons, while commercial freight alone went up 9.3% to 57,315 tons. This is while the volume of mail went down 12.6%.
The airport leadership team stated that the increase in commercial freight is likely due to national shipping trends and changing logistics needs. They stated that due to the ample capacity and operational efficiency, Ontario is still one of the top 10 air cargo hubs in the entire USA, and is positioned with the most important distribution and freeway networks in the Southern California logistics triangle.
They believe this will continue to be the case in the future as long as shipping volumes from the nation continue to be high. This provides confidence that the airport will continue to be the same as it is now in the future.
Regional Impact and Economic Significance
The new airport is a major catalyst for regional growth throughout the Inland Empire. Its design of governance through a joint powers agreement of ownership between the City of Ontario and San Bernardino County keeps decision-making local and allows governance to grow to the area’s economic demands. Increased local control of the governance structure allows for rapid and targeted investments and decisions
Governor’s strategy for growth of passenger and freight activities cites governance structure as the point of focus for the growth since 2016.
As the population of Southern California expands to the east, the importance of Ontario’s location and capacity increases. The airport serves as a major travel point for residents located in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, as it is far more convenient than the larger coastal airports.
Looking Ahead to 2026
January performance was strong, and airport officials were cautiously optimistic. Continued routes and operational improvements are expected, as well as a focus on the customer’s experience.
This winter, travelers at Ontario’s terminals enjoyed an atmosphere of quiet confidence. The airport’s record-setting beginning of the year was due to families beginning vacations, business travelers going to conferences, and international travelers visiting family. The steady growth of the airport over the last decade has transformed it from an overlooked facility to an important regional gateway.
As we enter 2026, the airport’s leadership is committed to expanding even further. With January’s figures, it looks like Ontario’s position in Southern California’s travel network will continue to expand, fulfilling the hopes of an active community to take back its airport.
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