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INSIDER

Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) is located 32 miles from LAX
in the heart of one of the most robust population and economic centers in the U.S.

One on One with Dan Cappell,
Chief Commercial Officer, Ontario International Airport
Tailoring concessions for the U.S.’ fastest –growing airport

One of the biggest stories in the North American aviation industry is the rise of Ontario International Airport, a medium-sized airport
located 32 miles from giant LAX in California. Once a part of the Los Angeles World Airports Group, ONT returned to local ownership
in 2016. Since then, ONT has become one of the aviation industry’s great success stories, with passenger volumes climbing more than
30% to a pre-pandemic peak of nearly 5.6 million. Over the past year, Ontario has posted one of the strongest travel recovery rates in the
country and was named by Global Traveler magazine as the fastest-growing airport in the country for the third year in a row.
The airport’s concession program has evolved along with its passenger growth, especially because it is overseen by Dan Cappell, a
familiar figure in the travel retail industry, with a 30-year career that spans the brand side, the operator side and the airport side of the
business. In a far-ranging interview with TMI, Cappell talks about where the airport is now and its plans for the future.
Lois Pasternak reports.

“When we took over the airport in 7.2 million in 2007. Our forecast sees
2016 the decline in passengers was so our traffic doubling from 5.5 million to
steep that traffic was at an all-time low. more than 10 million by the time the
As a result, a large part of our concession Olympics arrive in Southern California
business was shut and some concessions, in 2028. We have a large land base which
including key restaurants, had been is right for development and we have a
closed for a couple of years. The new growing number of airlines and routes, all
management team came in November of which make us more attractive as far
2016, and from 2017 to 2018 we worked as concessionaires are concerned,” said
on getting the foundations established, also Cappell.
getting the right people onboard. From Dan Cappell, Chief Commercial Officer, ONT
2019 onwards we began accelerating, not 3Sixty Duty Free sees potential
only in terms of our growth in passenger population and economic centers in the The 10-year concession agreement
traffic but right across from A to Z of the U.S. During the first year of the pandemic, signed between Ontario International
business operations,” Dan Cappell, Chief the surrounding area grew by 33,000 Airport Authority (OIAA) Board of
Commercial Officer, ONT tells TMI. households, according to Steve Lambert, Commissioners and 3Sixty Duty Free and
ONT is ideally positioned to continue Public Information Officer at Ontario More in January is the best example of the
growing for years to come. The airport International Airport. It is also a major hub potential companies see in the airport, says
does not have curfews nor pax capacity for UPS, Fed Ex and Amazon, placing it Cappell. Located in terminal 2, the store is
issues, which is an advantage over other within the top 10 airports in cargo volume. due to open in September.
airports in Southern California. The airport “One of the core focuses has been “The concession with ONT will be
is also in the heart of one of the most robust to rebuild traffic numbers that peaked at 3Sixty’s first operation on the West Coast

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