Travelers increased at ONT during 2023

Ontario International Airport reported a 12% jump in passenger volume in 2023 over the previous year with a total of 6.4 million travelers, continuing its post-pandemic growth.

It was second year the airport exceeded prepandemic numbers with nearly 850,000 more passengers than the airport saw in 2019 and about 700,000 more passengers than the airport saw in 2022, the airport said in a news release Tuesday.

In December alone, the airport saw 551,000 travelers with a total of 508,002 domestic passengers and 43,159 international passengers.

On the cargo front, the airport reported this week it saw total freight volume down 12.5% in the month of December with a total of 79,774 tons of cargo. The airport saw an 11.8% drop in freight volume over the course of the year, following ongoing global economic trends, ONT said in its news release.

The airport found other success in 2023 and was ranked No. 3 for medium-sized airports in the J.D. Power 2023 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. The study rates airports on six factors: terminal facilities; airport arrival/departure; baggage claim; security check; checkin/baggage check; and food, beverage and retail.

And in December the airport celebrated the opening of its Global Entry Enrollment Center in the Diane Feinstein International Terminal. This is the third enrollment center in Southern California following the opening of centers at Los Angeles and San Diego international airports.

Global entry, a program managed by the federal customs agency, provides expedited entry into the United States for pre-approved low-risk travelers. Using automated kiosks, approved travelers can bypass the long lines often experienced at customs entry points.