Shipments of air freight continued to drive commercial activity at Ontario International Airport (ONT) in February, with its latest data showing continued double-digit growth in cargo volumes, while its passenger volumes remained soft.

Freight volume totalled more than 62,800 tons in February, rising 14.3% over the same period in 2020.

For the first two months of the year, air freight totalled more than 133,000 tons, almost 15% higher than the same period in 2020 as shipments of mail more than doubled to 6,400 tons during the month.

“Our airport continues to be a bright reflection of the Inland Empire’s skilled labour force and vibrant economy in 2021,” said Mark Thorpe, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority.

“Despite the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air travel and other sectors of the economy, freight shipments through Ontario continue to show tremendous strength and make the airport a focal point of Southern California’s goods movement industry.” 

Meanwhile, passenger volume continued to feel the pandemic’s impact as 152,000 air travellers moved through ONT in February, 63% less than the total from February of last year. Of this, more than 150,000 were domestic passengers and 2,000 were international fliers, showing declines of 62% and 90%, respectively.

Thorpe noted, however, that new air services and resumption of suspended flights in the coming months bode well for ONT’s recovery.

Last week, Hawaiian Airlines launched its new service between ONT and Honolulu – one of nearly a dozen popular US destinations that are being initiated or restarted. The first service from ONT to Central America also will begin this summer.