Ontario International Airport (ONT) ended 2024 on a high note by welcoming more than 7 million air travelers for the year, it was announced at the meeting of Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of Commissioners on Thursday (Jan. 23).

The Southern California gateway reported 7,084,864 passengers in 2024, 10.2% more than 2023 and 27% more than pre-pandemic 2019, making it the fastest growing among medium- and large-size airports in California. The 2024 count also represents a 67% increase since 2016, when ONT was transferred to local control from the City of Los Angeles.

The number of domestic travelers totaled 6,645,968, an increase of 10.5% year-over-year, while the number of international fliers grew by 5.1% to 438,896, the highest in the airport's history.

Atif Elkadi, OIAA chief executive officer, noted that December passenger volume grew by nearly 10% to 603,886, marking the 46th straight month of year-over-year increases. December was also the eighth consecutive month with the passenger count exceeding 600,000.

The air carriers with the greatest passenger shares for the full year 2024 were:

1. Southwest Airlines (35.9%)
2. American Airlines (15.7%)
3. Frontier Airlines (14.6%)
4. Delta Air Lines (10.1%)
5. Alaska Airlines (7.3%)

Air cargo in 2024, meanwhile, remained strong, reflecting ONT's status as a top 10 cargo hub in the U.S. For the year, air freight and mail combined grew by 5.5% over 2023 to the highest level since air shipments surged during the pandemic. In December cargo increased by nearly 4% compared to the same month in 2023.

During Thursday's Board meeting, OIAA officials expressed support for victims of the recent wildfires.

Elkadi noted that ONT became a safe haven for aircraft affected by high winds and smoke following the onset of the fires, receiving flights diverted from airports in Burbank, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego.