SoCal gateway saw passenger count increase nearly 17% in June compared with June 2023.

Passenger volume at Ontario International Airport (ONT) climbed to a new record in June, topping 652,000 and eclipsing the previous record of 618,000 set just one month before, officials announced.

The June count of 652,729, which was 16.7% higher than the same month last year, was the most in a single month since ONT’s transition to local ownership in 2016. The airport is nearing its all-time passenger record of 693,000 set in August 2007.

The Southern California gateway welcomed 615,355 domestic passengers last month, 17.9% more than June last year, while the number of international travelers was flat.

During the first half of the year, ONT drew more than 3.3 million passengers overall, an increase of 11.1% compared with the same period in 2023. The number of domestic passengers increased 9.8% to more than 3 million while the number of international fliers was 32.2% higher.

“With 40 consecutive months of year-over-year growth, Ontario International Airport continues to prove itself the aviation hub of choice for more Southern California residents and visitors,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “As population and employment opportunities grow in the Inland Empire, the appeal of our world-class facilities, services and amenities is steadily increasing.”

The air carriers with the greatest passenger shares in June were:

  1. Southwest (35.2%)
  2. Frontier Airlines (16.3%)
  3. American Airlines (14.9%)
  4. Delta Air Lines (10.9%)
  5. Alaska Airlines (7.1%)

PassengerTotalsJun2024Jun2023ChangeYTD2024YTD2023Change
Domestic615,355522,08817.9%3,088,4022,813,9179.8%
International37,37437,3590.0%232,937176,23832.2%
Total652,729559,44716.7%3,321,3392,990,11511.1%

Meanwhile, shipments of commercial freight decreased by 2.6% in June but increased 2.6% on a year-to-date basis.

Air cargo(tonnage)Jun2024Jun2023ChangeYTD2024YTD2023Change
Freight55,92457,410-2.6%347,382338,4312.6%
Mail2,5574,260-40.0%15,55027,725-43.9%
Total58,48161,670-5.2%362,932366,156-0.9%

“Although commercial freight volume declined slightly last month, cargo tonnage increased over the first half of the year, reaffirming Ontario’s standing as a vital commercial air freight hub for Southern California,” Elkadi said.