ONTARIO, Calif., Jan 23, 2026, 15:50 PST
- Ontario International Airport says 2025 passenger traffic topped 7 million, led by a sharp rise in international travelers.
- The airport authority points to expanded international service and a customs status change aimed at supporting growth.
- Officials this week unveiled a new monument sign outside the airport as it marks a decade of local control.
Ontario International Airport said a surge in international travel helped deliver a record year in 2025, keeping a steady climb in passenger volumes going into 2026.
The airport is pitching the gains as more than a local story. In a region dominated by Los Angeles International Airport, even small shifts in routes and traveler habits can move real dollars for airlines, tourism and cargo operators.
It matters now because international flying is where the growth is. Those passengers trigger more customs staffing, tend to spend more in terminals, and can make new routes stick if airlines see steady demand.
Data released by the Ontario International Airport Authority showed total passengers rose 0.4% from 2024 to 7,116,735, while international volume climbed 29.2% to 566,923 and domestic traffic fell 1.4% to 6,549,812. Board president Alan D. Wapner said, “We are particularly gratified by the growth in international travel.” Chief executive Atif Elkadi said “Ontario International has strategically expanded its airport offerings,” as U.S. Customs and Border Protection reclassified ONT as a “Landing Rights Airport” — a customs designation that allows federal budget staffing support instead of relying on local user fees. The authority also reported air cargo tonnage rose 5.3% last year, with mail volumes more than doubling even as commercial freight slipped. (PR Newswire)
The airport has also been leaning into visibility. Local media this week covered the unveiling of a new monument sign outside the airport, replacing an older sign installed in 1998 and featuring 12-foot-tall “ONT” letters spanning about 60 feet, with lighting designed to change for holidays and special events. “For nearly three decades, our gateway sign quietly faded into the background,” Wapner said at the event. (CBS News)
Ontario’s argument is straightforward: more nonstop international service from an Inland Empire airport can pull travelers who would otherwise drive to LAX, while also competing with other regional fields for convenience-minded passengers.
But the runway to sustained growth is not clear. Overall passenger gains were slim, domestic travel slipped, and the cargo mix shifted toward mail rather than freight — warning signs if airlines cut capacity, demand softens, or customs staffing fails to keep up with international schedules.
For now, the airport authority is trying to link the numbers and the new branding into one message: Ontario wants to be seen, and used, as more than a secondary option in Southern California’s air-travel market.
