Talks May Lead To More Flights At Ontario Airport

The underutilized Ontario Airport, which has lost carriers and seen a reduction in flights, may now be on the runway to increased service for local residents.

“Having that airport is a real asset for our business community and tourism industry,'' said EDA spokesman Tom Freeman. “We need to do everything we can to make that airport successful and promote it.''

Bringing Ontario Airport under new management for the benefit of the Inland Empire will be the subject of a meeting involving officials from Ontario, and Riverside and San Bernardino counties, Freeman said today.

Ontario Airport is one of three airports operated by Los Angeles World Airports, which also runs Los Angeles International Airport.

According to Freeman, about a month ago, during a meeting in Sacramento, state Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, and Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit discussed the possibility of a joint powers authority to manage the nearly 90-year-old airport.

The JPA would include representatives from the city of Ontario and Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

The discussion immediately raised interest, leading to plans for a meeting in the next week between the prospective stakeholders, according to Freeman.

“We think the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino, coupled with the city of Ontario, would make a strong team whose partnership would ultimately result in Los Angeles World Airports releasing its operations to that JPA,'' he said.

Ontario Airport is “underutilized'' because it competes directly for the same business generated at Los Angeles International Airport, according to Freeman.

“The goal of a JPA would be more tourism, more business, more flights and better service,'' he said. “It would be a tremendous opportunity to expand marketing regionally, domestically and internationally. This is a first-class airport that, working together, we could help reach its full potential.''

Freeman cited the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport as a good example of a successful JPA.

According to Freeman -- who also serves as the county's foreign trade commissioner -- the initial meeting will determine the level of interest in a JPA, after which a decision will be made on how to approach forming one with the support of Los Angeles World Airports. –City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this report.