Ontario Airport Completes Major Runway, Taxiway Upgrade
Ontario International Airport (ONT) in Southern California has completed a major $90 million airfield upgrade aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency. Located 58 miles east of Los Angeles International Airport, ONT’s recent project involved repaving 80,000 square yards of its southernmost runway (8R-26L), updating adjacent taxiways, eliminating two older taxiways, and adding new Taxiway S8. The improvements also included LED lighting installations and infrastructure enhancements, funded primarily through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program, which contributed $67 million.
The airfield upgrades come as ONT reports strong passenger growth. From January through September, the airport handled 5.2 million travelers, marking an 11.5% increase over the same period in 2023. Domestic traffic led this growth with 4.9 million passengers, while international travelers totaled 335,769, up 13.5% year-over-year. ONT is poised to break its record of 7 million annual passengers, partly due to fewer operational constraints compared to other Southern California airports.
Southwest Airlines leads ONT’s market share at 34.5%, followed by Frontier Airlines at 16.6%, and American Airlines at 15.3%. ONT recently welcomed Avelo Airlines, which launched a new route to Sonoma County Airport on October 10, operating twice weekly.
ONT now connects to around 24 destinations, including Taiwan via China Airlines’ direct service to Taipei. The airport’s recent enhancements are expected to support continued growth, meeting increasing demand for domestic and international travel options.
Related News: https://airguide.info/category/magazineonline/airports/