Chamber Insists Local Control Vital for ONT International Airport

Higher rates and fewer flights have driven millions of travelers from Ontario to Los Angeles and other regional airports, resulting in large losses to the region’s economy.

With a unanimous vote by its Board of Directors, the Chamber joined a broad coalition of stakeholders to urge Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to cede control and management of Ontario International Airport (ONT) to a local agency based in Inland Southern California. As the region’s most accessible international airport and a critical asset to the region’s economy, ONT has seen lower passenger traffic as airlines are forced to charge higher rates or cut flights, driving passengers to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Since August 2007, the number of flights available at the Ontario International Airport has dropped 47 percent and the number of destinations available to fly into has been cut by nearly 60%. The airport has seen travel drop by a third over the past four years, to less than 5 million passengers annually – a level last seen in 1988 – but fares for flights that remain are at prices well higher at than other Southern California airports.

The reduction of flights has also resulted in an upward cost spiral for airlines serving Ontario as more of the airport’s fixed-costs for operations have to be spread across fewer and fewer flights. Airline fees at Ontario last year averaged $14.50 per passenger, about seven times the fees at Burbank, twice those at Long Beach, 45% more than Orange County and 31% higher than LAX’s $11 fee. Despite efforts to trim the fee, the airport remains far more expensive than others in Southern California, and it continues to be burdened by an annual administration fee from LAWA of approximately $9 million.

While both the Los Angeles and Inland economies have been struggling for these past three years, airline flights through Los Angeles International Airport have been climbing steadily, while flights through Ontario have been collapsing in a descent outpacing the struggling economy. Under current management by LAWA, it is estimated that the local regional economy has lost approximately 8,000 airport-related jobs and $400 million in yearly business activity.

Despite the tough economy, aviation industry experts estimate that 2 million passengers a year are being forced to drive to Los Angeles or other regional airports to get the flights, connections and/or fares they need but no longer have access to at ONT. It is further estimated that this diversion of business results in as many as 1 million car trips to LAX or other regional airports, which means more traffic congestion and air pollution in Southern California.

The Chamber will continue to advocate for the establishment of local control of ONT to revive the regional airport as an effective tool for business, travel, and accessibility for Inland Southern California.