ONT becomes global gateway after less than a year under local control
ONTARIO, Calif. – In a highly anticipated announcement, China Airlines said today it will launch non-stop passenger service between Taiwan and Ontario International Airport (ONT), continuing the airport’s dramatic rise in prominence as Southern California’s new global gateway.
China Airlines will operate its trans-oceanic service between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and ONT four times a week beginning in Spring 2018.
Related News – China Airlines Now Planning Daily Service Between Ontario and Taiwan
“China Airlines is the first Asian carrier to introduce regular services to Ontario. This will also be the second route to offer direct services between Taiwan and the Greater Los Angeles region of California after China Airlines began flying to Los Angeles in 1971. Flight frequency will be increased to one flight a day during the peak season depending on market demand,” said Nuan-Hsuan Ho, Chairman of China Airlines.
“Today’s development is a monumental step in ONT’s evolution toward becoming just the second trans-oceanic gateway airport in the history of Southern California, and equally impressive is that it occurred within a year of the airport’s transition to local control,” said Alan D. Wapner, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority and Mayor pro Tem of the City of Ontario.
“We have been working tirelessly for months to finalize this historic agreement and are eager to welcome China Airlines’ passengers and crew members with the hospitality and exceptional customer experience that will be the hallmarks of a committed airport partner and grateful community that will not soon forget and will never take for granted the first airline to invest in ONT as a gateway to Asia,” Wapner added.
TPE is the primary international gateway airport for the New Taipei–Keelung–Taoyuan City metro area, with more than 9 million residents, while ONT is the closest and most convenient international gateway airport for more than 10 million Southern California residents in the Inland Empire, northern Orange County, and eastern Los Angeles County.
China Airlines will be the first carrier to offer non-stop, trans-oceanic passenger service to ONT that is projected to carry more than 80,000 passengers annually in each direction between Taiwan and Southern California. The airline will serve the route with Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft equipped with 358 seats, including 40 in Premium Business Class and 62 in Premium Economy Class.
“We have been in a state of almost non-stop promotion of ONT as the next great international airport in Southern California,” said San Bernardino County Supervisor and OIAA Commissioner Curt Hagman, who has traveled to Asia frequently in the past year along with Mr. Wapner, to encourage airlines to initiate international passenger service to Ontario.
“Airlines now recognize that we not only have the infrastructure to support their operations, but will make the improvements necessary to manage increasing demand for international air travel to Southern California,” said Hagman.
The initiation of air service is the outgrowth of a memorandum of agreement between the OIAA and TPE memorialized this past July to work toward the development of passenger and cargo services between TPE and ONT, as well as a sister city agreement signed last February between Taoyuan City and San Bernardino County to foster economic development opportunities between the two regions.
About Ontario International Airport
ONT is located approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a medium-hub, full-service airport with direct commercial jet service to 15 major U.S. cities and connecting service to many domestic and international destinations. There are approximately 62 daily departures offered by 8 air carriers. For more information about ONT, please visit www.flyOntario.com.
About the Ontario International Airport Authority
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 (Commissioner), and San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner).
About China Airlines
Founded in 1959, China Airlines employs more than 12,000 people worldwide and operates a fleet of 99 aircraft, making it the largest airline by size and frequency of service in Taiwan. China Airlines is also one of the 20 SkyTeam Alliance member airlines. China Airlines offers passengers access to an extensive global network of more than 17,343 daily flights to 1,062 destinations in 177 countries. China Airlines is continuing to promote superior aviation safety as well as eco-friendly, innovative and attentive services that provide travelers with the perfect travel experience. Recent major international and domestic awards received by China Airlines include: 7/7 Safety Rating from AirlineRatings in Australia, the Taiwanese civil aviation industry’s top “Golden Flyer Award”, “Best of the Best” Red Dot Award, iF Design Award, Good Design Award from Japan, “Best Airline of the Year”, “Best Airline in North Asia”, “Best Business Class Seat Design” and “Best Premium Economy” from the U.S.-based Global Traveler, “Top 10 Premium Business Class” and “Top 10 Economy Class” from the DesignAir, PAX International reader survey’s winner in the “2016 Outstanding Food Service by a Carrier – Asia” category, and the APEX Award for Publication Excellence for the inflight magazine “Dynasty.” For more information, visit http://www.china-airlines.com.
