March Passenger Volume Rises 8.7% at Ontario International
Passenger volume at Ontario International Airport rose 8.7% in March over the same period last year, marking the largest increase in six years, airport officials said Wednesday.
The rise -- from 540,865 in March 2003 to 587,907 last month -- follows a 6% increase in February.
Airport officials said the two-month rise could be attributed in part to a $650,000 radio and billboard campaign touting Ontario International Airport as an alternative to Los Angeles International Airport.
The campaign was launched in February.
The March increase in passenger volume was the biggest monthly rise since April 1998.
The two-month increase is the first sign that the airport is beginning to recover from the steep slump in passenger volume after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
After the attacks, volume dropped more than 24% and remained relatively steady for the last two years.
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