California's Ontario International Airport Part 1: Change of ownership allows it to compete with LAX

Ontario International Airport has languished in the shadow of Los Angeles' LAX for many years, prompting a growing call for separation from Los Angeles World Airports. At last the umbilical cord is about to be cut, and local city councils will be in control of its destiny.

But the difficulties that OIA has had to face will not all go away. They include a huge urban catchment area, where industry was hit hard by the recession and wages are low and, above all, an image that it is no more than a low cost facility without any real gravitas.

The ownership change opens the door, at least potentially, to private sector investment and management in the long run, but costs must be reined in and the bottom line improved first.

This report looks at present and future growth trends at the airport, local economic and airport statistics, how it matches up to competing airports across a range of metrics, at construction activities and in detail at the ownership issue.