Ontario International Airport Keeps Climbing with Passenger Count Up Nearly 2% in May

The number of passengers who traveled through Ontario International Airport (ONT) was higher by nearly 2% in May, the 51st straight month of year-over-year growth, while air cargo volume increased 5%, officials announced.

The airport reported 630,137 passengers last month, 1.9% more than May 2024. Domestic passengers totaled 591,336, while the number of international travelers was 38,801, increases of 1.6% and 5.8%, respectively.

The Southern California gateway welcomed almost 2.7 million passengers over the first five months of the year, 0.8% more than the same period last year. Domestic passenger volume grew by 1.1% to 2.5 million.

Passenger TotalsMay 2025May 2024ChangeYTD 2025YTD 2024Change
Domestic591,336581,9761.6%2,500,5462,473,0471.1%
International38,80136,6855.8%190,165195,563-2.8%
Total630,137618,6611.9%2,690,7112,668,6100.8%

“Every traveler we welcome and every shipment we move is a reflection of something bigger – the trust our community places in us, the dedication of our team and the bold vision set by our Board of Commissioners,” said Atif Elkadi, CEO of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “ONT’s continued growth isn’t just about numbers. It’s about building something meaningful for Southern California, a world-class airport experience that’s grounded in service, driven by purpose, and powered by people who care deeply about this region and its future.”

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

  • Southwest Airlines (37.9%)
  • American Airlines (15.5%)
  • Delta Air Lines (10%)
  • Frontier Airlines (9.9%)
  • United Airlines (9.6%)

Airport officials expect ONT to serve 2.2 million passengers during the summer travel season, which started over Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day.

A top 10 cargo hub in the U.S., Ontario saw continued growth in air cargo in May, up by 5.1%. Freight shipments decreased by 8.6% while mail volume remained strong, gaining 324.3%.

Air cargo (tonnage)May 2025May 2024ChangeYTD 2025YTD 2024Change
Freight58,60064,116-8.6%276,134291,459-5.3%
Mail11,6662,749324.3%56,26612,992333.1%
Total70,26666,8655.1%332,400304,4519.2%

From January through May, air cargo tonnage was 9.2% greater than the same period last year, with freight volume 5.3% lower and mail 333.1% higher.

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.