Ontario International Airport — Local services in Ontario

Be advised! I have been compelled by the Google Maps app to tell you about the diamond in the rough, the unsung hero of air travel, the... wait for it... Ontario International Airport!

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Ontario? Really? Is that even a real airport?" Don't they just have school buses with wings? Not only do they have nice real planes, but Ontario is as real as the delayed flight you were expecting from that OTHER more expensive airport with the rude TSA agents. You know the one. But here's the kicker: it's actually... pleasant here for a myriad of reasons Let's start with a fairly easy passenger drop off and pick up . No bunched up traffic with rude drivers and cops yelling at you. It's really organized

" Okay" , you may ask, but what about parking? Remember that time you spent 45 minutes circling LAX, convinced you'd be living in your car for the rest of your days? Forget about it! Ontario's parking is like finding a free donut in a police station – unexpected and delightful! There's SPACE! You can BREATHE! You might even find a spot close enough that you don't need to hire a An Uber to help you to carry your luggage to the front. Plus they do offer trams that are frequent, consistent, and effecient

And the TSA? Well, they're surprisingly... human. Okay, maybe they still make you take off your shoes, but they do it with a slightly-less-than-soul-crushing attitude. I swear I saw one actually crack a smile. (Maybe I was hallucinating from pre-flight jitters, but I'm choosing to believe!) Speaking of preflight jitters, Ontario offers some of the best places and best adult beverages ranging from microbrews and Ciders to Old Fashioned's. The wait staff are fast ( they know you have a plane to catch ) and kind. Philosophical observations are also available on request to unravel the most perplexing questions such as " does a fish know it's wet?"

The best part? The airport itself isn't a chaotic, sprawling metropolis of screaming children and stressed-out travelers. It's… manageable. You can actually find your gate without needing a GPS and a survival kit. And bonus points: the food court doesn't require a second mortgage to afford a lukewarm pretzel. The only real downside is the lack of cell phone/ laptop charging stations. I do hope someday that they add more, but it's a small price to pay for less stress So, if you're looking for an airport experience that doesn't involve spontaneously developing an anxiety disorder, give Ontario a try. You might just find yourself pleasantly surprised. And if you see a guy giving the TSA agents high-fives, that's probably me. Just go with it.

Final verdict: 5 out of 5 strangely-calming-airport-experiences! Would definitely fly through again (and probably will, just for...

✈️ Ontario International Airport – Inland Empire’s Gateway

📍 Located about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in Ontario, California, ONT is the region’s full-service international airport serving over 30 nonstop destinations across the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and Asia.

📊 Recent Growth & Stats

Served over 7.08 million passengers in 2024, a 10.2% increase from 2023—and 27% above 2019 levels—making it one of California’s fastest-growing airports.

ONT recorded its 50th straight month of passenger growth by April 2025.

Domestic travelers numbered over 6.64 million, while international reached 438,896—highest ever recorded.

🏢 Terminals & Airlines

The airport includes the Dianne Feinstein International Terminal, Terminal 2, and Terminal 4 serving airlines such as Southwest, American, Delta, United, Volaris, STARLUX, China Airlines, and more.

Provides speedy security, straightforward layout, and around 30 nonstop routes daily.

🛍️ Amenities & Passenger Experience

Dining and shopping include Chick‑fil‑A, Dunkin’, Pizza Vino, Tap & Pour, and local vendors.

Supports travelers with accessibility services, ATMs, rental car facilities, ONT+ visitor passes for public post-security access, and efficient ground transportation.

A key cargo hub, handling over 793,000 tons of freight and mail in 2024, combining both FedEx and UPS operations.

🎥 Reels/Shorts Voiceover Script (45–60 sec)

“Welcome to Ontario International Airport, the rising star of Southern California travel—orbits east of LA yet handles international flights to destinations like Taipei, Mexico City, and more. 2024 saw over 7 million passengers, a record year. With three terminals—including the new Dianne Feinstein International Terminal—travel is fast and accessible. From Southwest and Volaris to STARLUX and China Airlines, ONT is your convenient gateway. Minimal traffic, efficient service, solid cargo infrastructure—it’s So Cal travel, done right!”

“Ontario International Airport – Southern California’s Efficient Travel Hub”

Review:

“Ontario International Airport delivers smooth and efficient travel with its three terminals and nonstop flights to ~30 destinations. The passenger growth reflects the quality—it handled over 7 million travelers in 2024.

Amenities like Chick‑fil‑A, reliable shuttles, and ONT+ visitor access make planning easy. Staff is friendly, lines are short, and the location—just outside LA—means less congestion. A top-notch alternative to LAX!”

#OntarioInternationalAirport #ONT #SouthernCaliforniaTravel #AirportLife #FastGrowingAirport #CargoHub #SoCalGateway #TravelReels #GoogleLocalGuide #AirportEfficiency #InlandEmpire...

2025: Terminal 2 Still super convenient, easy in easy out airport with friendly enough staff. Brewery X is open in Terminal 2, it looks cool. Much better than the image they used to advertise it! lol! Anyway, 2 reasons it’s not a 5 star airport:

No rail service or shuttle to main destinations, or to other public transport. (Ride share is available.)

Whomever is responsible for cleaning the public seats needs a talking to. Or a supervisor. Or … maybe no-one has that job? What good is seating when it’s too gross to sit on?

2022:

As far as conveniently getting on a flight, ONT is Excellent. I have previously reviewed it with 5 stars. But whoa! What “genius” replaced The Coffee Bean, and the classy bar with pre-packaged food kiosk and a coffee vending machine? I used to hold off on breakfast or lunch just to get some indulgence at the airport before a flight. I’ll never do that again!

First thing you’ll be greeted by if you take the east wing (Gates 207-213) is a duty free store with brightly lit Marlboro and liquor signs. (Seriously, who comes to ONT for this stuff and why should my kids and I have to sit across from it while waiting on my Delta flight?! It’s like I drove my kids to N. Vegas before it was revamped.) No wait, actually first thing you’ll see is a wall ad saying that X brewery is coming soon. The largest “person” in this ad is an eerie AI dude staring off at nothing. It’s creepy! The coffee machine is full on false advertising. I’ll post the picture of what it promised, versus what it delivered. Worse, it has multiple drinks with similar names but it doesn’t describe what the differences are. It doesn’t offer any non-dairy creamer/milk options either. And no, it doesn’t taste like freshly brewed coffee. There are only 2 restaurants in Terminal 1. They don’t serve bfast after 10:30 a.m. Boo! Price for sandwiches and personal Pizzas range from &12.99 - $20. My sons shared a personal pizza (they liked the taste) and each had a drink. It was $30. We aren’t talking fine dining with a great atmosphere folks. This is ridiculous.

I have been so excited reading about the celebrated changes at ONT. But for all the hype, the people running it have turned it into an upgraded Greyhound...