ONTARIO >> As one airport in the region tries to lure in passengers with a new billboard campaign, another has managed to attract new flights.
Southwest will be adding nonstop flights to Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Airport, Oakland International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport from Love Field in Dallas in the next year. Some of that new service at John Wayne will begin on Saturday.
But left out of that equation is the beleaguered LA/Ontario International Airport.
Brad Hawkins, spokesman for Southwest, said the airline has not yet disclosed if those additional flights will include new markets or increased frequencies to existing markets served.
“The number of flights at Ontario is reflected off the demand we have. If you fly with us, we will come,” he said. “We are not robbing Peter to pay Paul. It’s a decision that’s made independent, and we see in the market.”
During the economic recession, the airline industry pulled service from regional airports such as ONT and John Wayne to large airports such as LAX — due in part to high fuel prices.
At John Wayne Airport, Southwest will be adding new service starting Saturday, phasing in new routes throughout the year.
Jenny Wedge, spokeswoman for the airport said Southwest is adding 15 new flights in 2015.
“We’re thrilled they see the strength in OC’s travel market and look forward to learning what they have in store next year,” she said.
A look at the flight schedules by Official Airline Guide, a United Kingdom-based company that provides flight information between 2007 and 2014, highlights the shifts in service at John Wayne and ONT.
John Wayne had 145 daily departures in October 2007 and this month the number was down to 115 departures. The number of airlines operating at John Wayne increased by one to a total of 11 in 2014, while the number of destinations dropped by five to 20 in 2014.
In October 2007, ONT had 11 airlines flying to 33 destinations and was seeing 128 daily departures. Figures by ONT is down to eight airlines offering flights to 13 nonstop destinations. The number of daily departures dramatically decreased to 59.
ONT officials could not comment about the decision from Southwest not to add flights at the airport. The low-cost carrier is the largest airline at the Inland facility. Los Angeles World Airports launched a billboard campaign earlier this month in an effort to increase traffic.
“We have had, and continue to have, a dialogue with Southwest Airlines and other airlines, but decisions are ultimately made by the airlines,” said Maria Tesoro-Fermin, spokeswoman for ONT earlier this month.
