Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Off Site at Ontario Airport In-Person Only Meeting
Minutes
Present: Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Greg Bradbard, Mike Burrows, Ken Coate, Louis Goodwin, Otis Greer, Milford Harrison, Lowell King, Doug Kleam, Steve Lambert, Miguel Mendoza, Dr. Anne Miles, Dan Murphy, Bansree Parikh, Kristine Scott and Ray Wolfe.
Guests: Denise Davis, Kevin Keith, Keith Owens, Arnold San Miguel and John Tang.
Announcements: 1) UC Riverside with be hosting the Department of Defense (DOD), Taking the Pentagon to the People on Friday, October 7th, from 9:00a.m.- 5:30p.m. at UC Riverside, HUB 302. It is a full day of workshops and presentations by DOD officials on topics of interest to Minority Serving Institutions for faculty, staff, and students. This is also a great opportunity for community and business leaders to connect with the Department of Defense. Please go to https://web.cvent.com/event/84c2ad48-7d66-4055-8dde-2eba0a0688aa/summary for more information and to register. 2) A State of Ontario International Airport event will be held on November 1, 2022, to update the public on the success of local ownership and the economic impact of ONT.
Motion by K. Scott/Second/Passed: Minutes from September 20, 2022, and September 27, 2022.
Approve Dr. Anne Miles as primary representative and Rebecca Boydston as the alternate representative for O’Reilly Public Relations (OPR).
Motion: M. Burrows/Second/Passed
Steve Lambert introduced Ontario Mayor Pro Alan Wapner who is also President of the Ontario Airport Authority (ONT) overseeing an unprecedented successful turn-around of business at the airport and huge economic impact in the city and region.
Appreciation was expressed to the Inland Action group for their long-term support of regaining local control of the airport from LAX which was finalized in November 2016.
The airport has grown faster than anticipated since local control was restored. A large part of their business plan was to develop some 800 acres of adjacent land to provide income for their operation, make upgrades and reduce costs. New carriers such as China Air with daily non-stops to Taiwan (the only So. Cal. airport that offers this service) and the addition of Hawaiian Airlines and Jet Blue has increased traffic and revenue. Frontier Airlines also has moved a majority of their flights out of LAX and into ONT adding to their presence. Additionally, the purchase of some of their undeveloped land by FedEx has allowed improved amenities both inside and out of the airport. New food options and upgraded services are now offered and will continue to grow. Other additions to increase the customer experience include Top Golf, a Duty-Free shop, and soon a service termed Ontario Plus will allow non-ticketed persons to be in a sterile area in terminals to meet family and enjoy the amenities.
Globally airports lost 90% of their volume due to COVID-19. However, unlike many other airports a good deal of their success during the pandemic has been attributed to their balance of both passenger and cargo business. Currently 60% of their revenue is cargo and 40% passenger. They will continue to keep a balance of the two as they recognize cargo is an essential part of Ontario business.
Their customs facility has not yet been updated so to expand international travel they plan to build a new international terminal which will be named in honor of Senator Feinstein who with dedication championed their independence from LAX.
Omnitrans currently offers service to ONT from the Rancho Cucamonga station, but ONT along with SBCTA will continue to pursue tunnel transportation to carry passengers on autonomous vehicles from Rancho Cucamonga to the airport. Geo studies are currently being conducted.
During the LAX management firefighters acted as police at the airport but under local control ONT has hired actual police officers.
Capital Improvements
- ONT’s updated business plan includes a 20-year airport layout which has the potential for FedEx leasing 52 acres and ROFA another 40 acres.
- The 40-year-old runways need replacing and their 3-year runway program will bid-out separately on an annual basis. The first-year construction has been awarded at a cost of $29M with work to begin in January 2023.
- Expansion of both terminals and increasing SSCPs to six lanes will ease congestion now and for expected growth.
- Parking lot improvements will rehabilitate parking lots 2, 3, 4, and 5 with construction expected in 2023-2025 at an estimated $21M.
- SBCTA tunnel to Ontario Airport project will feature a bi-directional system where passengers traveling to and from ONT will be transported in autonomous, zero-emission vehicles on an “on-demand” basis between the Cucamonga Metrolink Station and ONT terminals.
Benefits of ONT Airport include less than 15 minutes from curb to gate, pre-book parking available, a medium sized airport with more room & less congestion, and less traffic and road congestion.
After a strong 2021, ONT has officially surpassed pre-pandemic traffic levels. ONT is an economic driver as is SBIA and both are good for the community and the region.
A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:32 a.m.