Ontario International Airport Eyes Seven Million Passengers as International Travel Surges in 2026

Ontario International Airport (ONT), located in Southern California, is inching closer to yet another milestone in 2026, with about 5.3 million passengers using the airport in the first nine months of the year. Although there has been a slight fall in domestic passengers, the airport still experiences a steady flow of international passengers, making it one of the significant aviation gateways for the Greater Los Angeles area.

According to the airport’s latest traffic figures, 5,274,568 passengers travelled through Ontario International between January and September 2026. The total was almost unchanged from the corresponding period in 2025, when the airport handled 5,278,343 travellers. However, international traffic increased by nearly 28%, demonstrating growing demand for overseas connectivity.

Ontario International Airport Approaches Major Passenger Milestone in 2026

Ontario International Airport remains on course to reach approximately seven million passengers by the end of 2026, reflecting its sustained development over the past decade.

Since transitioning to local control in 2016, the airport has experienced passenger growth exceeding 65%. This expansion highlights the increasing importance of Ontario as an alternative aviation gateway within Southern California.

Located in the Inland Empire, the airport serves communities across San Bernardino County, Riverside County and the wider Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Its expanding passenger base reflects the region’s growing population, commercial activity and demand for convenient air travel connections.

September Passenger Traffic Records a Modest Decline

While the airport’s overall performance remains relatively stable, September 2026 brought a slight reduction in passenger numbers.

Ontario International welcomed 582,315 travellers during the month, compared with 599,086 in September 2025. This represented a year-on-year decline of 2.8%.

Domestic passenger traffic fell by 3.5%, from 554,651 to 535,481 travellers.

The reduction coincided with a modest decrease in available airline seats as carriers adjusted their operations in response to higher fuel costs.

Nevertheless, the decline remained limited, and the airport continued to handle more than half a million passengers during September.

The figures suggest that changes in airline capacity played a role in shaping monthly traffic performance.

International Travel Emerges as a Major Growth Driver

International passenger traffic has become one of Ontario International Airport’s strongest areas of growth in 2026.

Between January and September, the airport handled 502,786 international travellers, compared with 393,035 during the same period in 2025. This represented an impressive increase of 27.9%.

The positive trend continued in September, when international passenger numbers climbed by 5.4% to 46,834.

This growth stands in contrast to the decline in domestic passenger volumes, highlighting the increasing contribution of international travel to the airport’s overall performance.

For Southern California’s tourism industry, expanding international passenger activity creates opportunities for hotels, transport providers, visitor attractions and other travel-related businesses.

Domestic Travel Remains the Airport’s Largest Passenger Segment

Despite the strong expansion in international traffic, domestic travel continues to account for the overwhelming majority of passengers at Ontario International Airport.

During the first nine months of 2026, domestic passenger numbers reached 4,771,782, compared with 4,885,308 in the corresponding period of 2025.

This represented a decline of 2.3%.

Domestic travellers accounted for approximately 90% of the airport’s total passenger traffic during the reporting period.

The figures underline the continuing importance of the United States domestic aviation market to Ontario’s operations.

Although international services are gaining momentum, domestic connectivity remains central to the airport’s passenger volumes and broader commercial activity.

Southwest Airlines Maintains Its Leading Position at Ontario International

Southwest Airlines remained Ontario International Airport’s largest passenger carrier during September 2026, accounting for 36.5% of total passenger traffic.

American Airlines followed with a 12.4% share, while Frontier Airlines and United Airlines each represented 10.9%.

Alaska Airlines completed the five largest carriers with a 9.8% passenger share.

Together, these airlines accounted for 80.5% of the airport’s September passenger traffic.

Their substantial presence illustrates the importance of established domestic airline networks in supporting Ontario’s operations.

The distribution also demonstrates how several major carriers contribute to passenger connectivity across the airport’s route network, even as international traffic becomes increasingly significant.

Air Cargo Operations Deliver Strong Growth Throughout 2026

Alongside passenger activity, Ontario International Airport recorded notable growth in its air cargo business.

Total cargo shipments reached 649,034 tons between January and September 2026, representing a 7.3% increase compared with 605,095 tons during the corresponding period in 2025.

September delivered an even stronger performance.

Cargo volume increased by 13.2% to approximately 74,251 tons, compared with 65,587 tons a year earlier.

The results highlight Ontario International’s role as both a passenger gateway and a major freight-handling centre.

Its location within Southern California provides access to an extensive network of warehouses, distribution facilities and logistics operations supporting regional and international commerce.

Commercial Freight Expansion Strengthens Ontario’s Logistics Role

Commercial freight was the main contributor to Ontario International Airport’s cargo growth during September.

Freight shipments increased by 16.9%, rising from 55,143 tons in September 2025 to 64,485 tons in September 2026.

Over the first nine months of the year, commercial freight volumes reached 558,195 tons, representing growth of 10.1%.

Mail shipments, however, followed a different trend.

September mail volumes declined by 6.5% to 9,767 tons, while the year-to-date total decreased by 7.4% to 90,838 tons.

The contrasting results show that commercial freight has been driving cargo expansion, offsetting weaker mail activity.

This performance reinforces the airport’s importance within Southern California’s freight and supply-chain infrastructure.

Ontario International Outperforms Wider Air Cargo Growth Trends

Ontario International Airport’s September cargo performance exceeded the wider industry growth benchmarks cited in its traffic report.

The airport recorded a 13.2% increase in monthly cargo volume, compared with approximately 3% growth across the broader air cargo market.

Its year-to-date cargo growth reached 7.3%, demonstrating continued expansion despite mixed conditions across different freight categories.

The reported global year-to-date benchmark was 9%, meaning Ontario’s cumulative growth remained below that comparison, even though its September performance was considerably stronger.

The figures point to particularly strong momentum in the airport’s latest monthly freight operations.

For logistics companies and businesses operating across Southern California, Ontario remains an important part of the region’s aviation and cargo infrastructure.

Ontario International Looks Towards a Significant Year-End Finish

With almost 5.3 million passengers handled during the first nine months of 2026, Ontario International Airport enters the final quarter with the possibility of reaching seven million annual travellers.

Achieving that milestone would require approximately 1.73 million additional passengers between October and December.

International passenger growth and expanding commercial freight activity remain important positive developments, although domestic passenger volumes have experienced modest declines.

The airport’s performance also reflects the broader importance of aviation infrastructure to Southern California’s tourism, trade and regional economy.

As 2026 approaches its conclusion, Ontario International’s ability to maintain passenger demand while supporting international travel and cargo growth will remain central to its long-term development.