Ontario International Airport. Photo: Red Gerring / Shutterstock Ontario International Airport (ONT), which offers commercial jet service to two dozen major airports in the US, Mexico, Central America, and Taiwan, recently celebrated a major milestone with China Airlines: the 1 millionth passenger to travel through ONT since it began service between Ontario and Taipei, Taiwan, in 2018.
China Airlines aircraft. Photo: Hsu-Yu Cheng / Shutterstock Mr. Cheng, the 1 millionth passenger, was welcomed during a small ceremony on the evening of February 2, joined by airport and airline officials, including China Airlines’ Vice President of Americas Jack (Chih-Chao) Chih and ONT Senior Vice Presidents James Kessler and Eren Cello. The event highlighted not just the milestone for the airline, but also the airport’s growing role in international travel.
Since launching nonstop transoceanic flights, China Airlines has been instrumental in establishing Ontario as a global gateway for Southern California. The airline gives travelers direct access to Taiwan and easy connections to destinations across Asia. In 2025 alone, China Airlines carried nearly 195,000 passengers through ONT.
“China Airlines’ success at Ontario International Airport is a testament to the strength of this market and to the vision both organizations shared when service was launched in 2018,” said Alan D. Wapner, President of the Ontario International Airport Authority Board.
“Welcoming the 1 millionth China Airlines passenger is not only a celebration of this airline’s achievement, but also a powerful affirmation of ONT’s growing role as an international gateway. It reflects our shared commitment to delivering world-class service, expanding global connectivity, and providing Southern California travelers with a more convenient and accessible option for international travel.”
Chih also called the airport "an ideal gateway for passengers traveling between Asia and major cities across the country."
"Through our cooperation with Southwest Airlines, travelers can easily connect to and from the Inland Empire to many more destinations across Asia and the United States. Looking ahead, China Airlines remains committed to enhancing our services, expanding our network, and delivering a safe, comfortable, and high-quality travel experience. We will continue working closely with our partners to bring more value and more choices to our passengers.”
ONT has seen strong growth in international travel in recent years, driven by new routes to Asia and Latin America and supported by investments in passenger amenities, terminal facilities, and federal inspection infrastructure. 2025 saw a notable increase in international travelers, reinforcing Ontario’s place among California’s fastest-growing international airports.
Wapner emphasized that the milestone reflects ONT’s broader transformation since returning to local control. “A region as large and dynamic as Greater Los Angeles deserves more than one global gateway. China Airlines helped make that vision real at Ontario, and this achievement demonstrates how far we’ve come together.”