Ontario Airport Economic Impact Hits $4.8 Billion in 2024

A new independent study by Oxford Economics reveals that Ontario International Airports (ONT) generated $4.8 billion in economic output in 2024, marking a 78 percent increase since the facility returned to local control nearly a decade ago.

Announced on August 11, 2026, in a press release by the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA), the findings highlight the Southern California hub’s rapid expansion as both a passenger gateway and a critical logistics center. The report compared 2024 data against figures from November 2016, when the airport transitioned to local ownership, demonstrating a 75 percent surge in total economic impact over the period.

Passenger and employment growth

The Oxford Economics analysis details substantial gains across multiple metrics of regional economic health. Airport activity supported 24,300 jobs in 2024, representing a 72 percent increase from the 14,100 jobs recorded in 2016. This employment growth aligns with a significant rise in passenger traffic, which climbed from 4.3 million annual travelers in 2016 to 7 million in 2024.

The facility’s contribution to the regional gross domestic product across Southern California reached $3 billion, up 76 percent from $1.7 billion eight years prior. Additionally, airport-related activity generated $820 million in tax revenues annually, compared to $490 million at the time of the ownership transfer.

Logistics ecosystem and regional impact

Beyond direct airport operations, the study quantified the broader logistics and supply chain activity in the eight ZIP codes immediately surrounding the airfield. This adjacent industrial ecosystem generated $14.1 billion in gross domestic product and supported 150,000 jobs, underscoring the airport’s role as an anchor for the Inland Empire’s freight and distribution network.

Dan Martin, lead economist at Oxford Economics, noted that the scale of growth since 2016 stands out in the data.

“The analysis highlights ONT’s role within a growing regional logistics ecosystem while also showing how the airport provides Southern California residents with convenient access to air travel closer to home,” Martin stated in the press release.

Financial outlook and recent milestones

The economic impact report follows a series of operational and financial milestones for the OIAA in 2026. On July 23, 2026, the airport reported welcoming more than 3.4 million air travelers during the first six months of the year, the highest half-year total since the return to local ownership. Air cargo volumes also grew by 7.6 percent to over 428,000 tons during the same six-month period.

Financial markets have responded to this sustained growth. On February 3, 2026, Fitch Ratings placed the OIAA’s $120.8 million of outstanding airport revenue bonds on Rating Watch Positive, citing robust enplanement growth and a new airline use and lease agreement. OIAA Chief Executive Officer Atif Elkadi described the Oxford Economics report as a roadmap for the future, emphasizing the authority’s commitment to professional management and local accountability.

AirPro News analysis

The trajectory of Ontario International Airport over the past decade serves as a prominent case study in airport governance. When we examine the shift from regional authority management to localized control, the data from Oxford Economics suggests that aligning airport strategy directly with local municipal and commercial interests can accelerate growth. The Inland Empire’s expansion as a logistics hub certainly provided a macroeconomic tailwind, but the OIAA’s ability to capture that demand through infrastructure planning and airline partnerships appears to have maximized the economic yield for Southern California.

Sources: Ontario International Airport (via PR Newswire)