Ontario International Airport unveils towering “ONT” monument sign as symbol of decade of local control
Ontario International Airport (ONT) unveiled a 12-foot-letter, 60-foot-wide monument sign at Archibald Avenue and Airport Drive on January 21, 2026, marking a decade of local control and symbolizing the airport’s rising regional and international profile.
- Bold new landmark: 12-foot letters spelling ONT with sculpted, San Gabriel–inspired metal peaks and programmable LED illumination.
- Local fabrication: Designed and built by Ontario-based Sign Industries using modular sections.
- Symbolic timing: Unveiled to mark the airport’s “Decade of Local Control” since the Ontario International Airport Authority assumed full operations in 2016.
- Unanswered questions: Airport materials omit project cost, contract values and procurement detail.
ONT’s new face: what’s installed and who made it
The monument anchors the gateway at Archibald Avenue and Airport Drive. The centerpiece is three letters — ONT — each roughly 12 feet high, set before layered metal forms evoking the San Gabriel Mountains. The structure stretches about 60 feet, weighs more than eight tons and is mounted on a deep concrete foundation designed to withstand weather and roadway and airport vibrations.
LED light bars embedded in the letters and mountain sections allow color-changing illumination for holidays, events and milestones, giving the airport a programmable civic landmark visible to drivers and arriving travelers.
Fabrication and design: Organizers emphasized local work: the sign was designed and fabricated by Ontario-based Sign Industries, which used modular metal sections to create topographical depth and a sense of place tied to the Inland Empire.
Why now: the Decade of Local Control
The unveiling was timed to commemorate 10 years since local governments — led by the cities of Ontario and San Bernardino County — regained control of ONT via the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). Airport officials credit local stewardship with improved visibility, service and passenger growth since local control completed in 2016.
Officials point to record monthly passengers in June 2025 (more than 659,000) and nonstop service to 24 major destinations across the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. The airport was also ranked the second-best mid-sized airport in J.D. Power’s 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study — metrics officials cite as evidence of ONT’s rising profile.
Who’s behind the message
The airport is governed by the Ontario International Airport Authority. Leadership listed in airport materials includes:
- Alan D. Wapner — OIAA Board President (and Ontario mayor pro tem)
- Curt Hagman — Vice President (San Bernardino County supervisor)
- Jim W. Bowman — Secretary (Ontario council member)
- Ronald O. Loveridge — Treasurer (retired Riverside mayor)
- Julia Gouw — Commissioner
“The old gateway quietly faded into the background,” OIAA Board President Alan D. Wapner said. “The new monument unmistakably declares who we are and where we are headed.”
Media coverage and community ties
The unveiling was streamed live on the airport’s YouTube channel and covered by local and travel press. Coverage and official materials emphasize the sign as a visible claim of identity and a focal point for future partnerships with cultural institutions and regional sports.
Notably, the airport posted a livestream of the event (YouTube livestream), and the airport’s community updates and construction pages describe the project (flyONT construction page, flyONT community updates).
What the airport release does not say
Press materials and media reporting detail the sign’s design, dimensions and fabrication, but they do not disclose the total project cost, the contract value paid to Sign Industries, or a public breakdown of funding sources. For stakeholders tracking public spending and jobs, that omission is notable.
The airport’s construction and community pages provide project descriptions and fabrication attribution but leave out budget line items and procurement specifics; interested readers are advised to consult OIAA procurement records or file public-records requests for further detail.
Implications for the Inland Empire, California
Economic, political and cultural effects are intertwined:
- Economic: The monument contributes to place-making that city leaders hope will boost travel, cargo, hotels, restaurants and ground transport; local fabrication suggests some regional economic benefit, though costs and job counts remain undisclosed.
- Political: Supporters view the sign as tangible proof of successful local control; critics may press for transparency on spending and procurement in future campaigns.
- Social/cultural: The sculpted San Gabriel backdrop seeks to tie arrivals to regional landscape and civic pride, giving partners a new focal point for marketing and events.
Practical applications for residents
For commuters and residents, the monument alters the visual experience at a busy intersection and provides a new nighttime landmark thanks to programmable LED lighting. Travelers will have a clearer sense of arrival. Those tracking public projects should consult OIAA and local procurement records for contract and spending details.
Sources and further reading
- PR Newswire — Ontario International Airport unveils bold new monument sign
- TravelDailyMedia — Ontario International Airport unveils new monument sign
- CBS Los Angeles — Coverage of new ONT monument sign
- flyONT construction page — ONT monument sign
- flyONT community updates
- ONT YouTube livestream of the unveiling
Reporting for this article draws on airport press materials and regional media reporting. Public-records requests to the OIAA could further clarify procurement and cost details related to the monument project.
