FreightWaves: Ontario, California dethrones Atlanta as largest outbound market

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Nov 14, 2018, 12:00 ET

ONTARIO, Calif., Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ontario is the top U.S. market for shipments of outbound cargo, knocking Atlanta from the No. 1 position, according to a leading trade journal which tracks freight movement.

In its edition for the week of November 11, FreightWaves reports that 4.63% of the nation's outbound freight shipments in October were sent from Ontario while 4.51% went through Atlanta. The southeast hub had been the market share leader for much of the year, based on data compiled by FreightWaves.

ONT is one of the fastest growing freight gateways in North America.

"Ontario plays a leading role in the nation's goods movement industry with its proximity to interstate highways, rail lines and the nation's largest seaport complex," said Alan D. Wapner, Mayor pro Tem of the City of Ontario and President of the Ontario International Airport Authority. "Our mission is to develop Ontario into an aviation gateway and economic engine for the Inland Empire. With our expanding population base, highly skilled workforce and modern infrastructure, there can be no doubt that Ontario is a key nerve center in the nation's economy."

Since ONT's return of local control in November 2016, air freight volume has grown consistently by upwards of 20% on a year-over-year basis. In the first nine months of the year, freight volume totaled 521,705 tons, an increase of 18.1% over the 441,754 tons handled during the same period in 2017.

"Much of the seaborne cargo which moves through the Los Angeles-Long Beach harbor complex and then carried to the Inland Empire by truck and train is trans-shipped through Ontario's extensive warehouse industry to eastward destinations, making the city a key point in the nation's transportation network," said Mark Thorpe, OIAA's chief executive officer. "And a considerable share of the cargo that passes through the Inland Empire is shipped from Ontario International Airport, which continues to post double-digit growth every month."

United Parcel Service and FedEx Express have maintained long-term cargo operations at ONT. The OIAA approved a new 30-year lease arrangement with FedEx in June which includes the development more than 50 acres on the northwest quadrant of ONT, nearly three times the area FedEx Express currently occupies on the airport's south side.

FedEx Express will invest nearly $100 million to revitalize aircraft parking apron areas; consolidate and construct a sorting facility, ground support staging area, secondary and maintenance buildings; enhance perimeter fencing; and install landscaping. The improvements are anticipated to be completed by November 30, 2020.

About Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is located in the Inland Empire, approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport with nonstop commercial jet service to 19 major airports in the U.S., Mexico and Taiwan, and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com.
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About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA)

The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario Mayor Pro-Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner).

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Atif Elkadi, Deputy Executive Director, (858) 361-9319 [email protected]
Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected]

SOURCE Ontario International Airport