"Revenues off at Ontario, Calif. airport"

Saturday, February 26, 2005

Revenues off at Ontario airport
By PAUL HERRERA
The Riverside (CA) Press-Enterprise


Ontario International Airport last year continued to be affected by the
rising security costs, a lingering effect of the fight against terrorism. 

The airport made $5.5 million in 2004, down from $13 million, not counting
depreciation and amortization. The drop is due largely to a rise in
operating expenses, according to a financial report released this week. 

Revenues for the airport's parent agency, Los Angeles World Airports, grew
by $44 million, buoyed primarily by growth at Los Angeles International
Airport. 
 
Despite the revenue growth, LAWA's overall financial picture stayed steady
as costs rose at a similar rate. In notes included with the organization's
annual financial report, LAWA management said security costs are up and will
remain so for the foreseeable future. 

LAWA, an agency of the city of Los Angeles, owns and operates Ontario
International Airport, LAX and regional airports in Palmdale and Van Nuys. 

"We're healthy financially and looking to grow going forward," said Jens
Rivera, airport manager for Ontario International. 

The inland airport enjoyed its busiest year on record in 2004 with almost 7
million travelers. The airport posted a growth rate just shy of 6 percent,
it's best year-to-year improvement of the decade. 

Ontario International showed similar gains in cargo volume and narrowly
passed Philadelphia to become the 13th largest cargo airport in the country.
Ontario finished the year with 605,132 tons, the first time it has crossed
the 600,000-ton mark, to Philadelphia's 604,683 tons. 

Figures released Monday show the airport opening 2005 strong on the
passenger side. More than 512,000 travelers used the airport last month, a
gain of 5.8 percent over the same month in 2004. Cargo tonnage in January
dipped by 2.6 percent.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************