President of China Airlines Su-Chien Hsieh receives a NASCAR gift during the airline’s launch service between Ontario International Airport and Taiwan on Sunday, March 25, 2018. A couple hundred Asian media outlets attended the festivities at the California airport. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Chia Yun Chang, 6, of Las Vegas is “happy” to be part of history as mom takes her picture. China Airlines launched service between Ontario International Airport and Taiwan on Sunday, March 25. This is the first daily transpacific service in the Ontario, Calif., airport’s history. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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Look for the cherry blossom and you’re at China Airlines, which launched service between Ontario International Airport and Taiwan on Sunday, March 25, 2018. A couple hundred Asian media outlets attended at the California airport. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

President of China Airlines Su-Chien Hsieh laughs, left, as U.S. Rep. Ed Royce jokes during China Airlines’ maiden flight between Ontario International Airport, pictured, and Taiwan on Sunday, March 25, 2018. Photographed at the California airport. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

China Airlines service between Ontario International Airport and Taiwan launched Sunday, March 25, 2018. The event was covered extensively by the Asian media. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)



The first flight between Ontario International Airport and Taiwan aboard China Airlines launched Sunday, March 25, 2018. Passengers waited in line to make history at the California airport. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

China Airlines crew members pose for pictures before flying from Ontario International Airport to Taiwan on Sunday, March 25, 2018. A couple hundred Asian media outlets attended the festivities at the California airport. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Noodles, rice, dumplings and boba were served at China Airlines’ celebration at California’s Ontario International Airport. The airline will fly to Taiwan daily. Photographed on Sunday, March 25, 2018.(Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A China Airlines plane taxis at Ontario International Airport for its first flight to Taipei on Sunday, March 25, 2018. A crowd of Asian media watched from the California airport where celebration, food and speeches were going sky high. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

The Three Prince Dance Troupe of the Taiwan Center of Greater Los Angeles entertains before China Airlines departs to Taiwan from Ontario International Airport, Calif. on Sunday, March 25, 2018. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)



Passengers can now hop on a flight in Ontario and head directly to Taiwan.

On Sunday, March 25, China Airlines launched service at Ontario International Airport. It’s the first daily, transpacific service in the airport’s 90-year history.

“This is something that is certainly historic, not just for our airport, but for the entire region,” Alan Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority and an Ontario city councilman, said by phone Friday, March 23.

“We’re the first airport in Southern California, other than Los Angeles, to have these transpacific flights.”

Airport and airline officials welcomed China Airlines flight #CI24 shortly before 1 p.m. with a water cannon salute and a Taiwanese dance in the terminal.

After remarks from Wapner, Ontario International Airport Authority CEO Mark Thorpe, Rep. Ed Royce of Fullerton, whose district includes part of San Bernardino County; and China Airlines officials, passengers boarded the late-afternoon flight to Taiwan.

Less than a year after the Ontario International Airport Authority gained control of the airport, China Airlines officials announced it would launch nonstop service between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and ONT four times a week.

In January, however, the airline announced it would expand its service to seven days a week due to higher-than-expected customer demand.

“The big thing obviously is not just the recognition they’re bringing,” Wapner said, “It’s also the huge economic impact that it’s going to have on the region, especially for the convention center and retail and restaurants in the area.”

Flights are scheduled to arrive from Taiwan at 1:20 p.m., with return service departing Ontario at 3:45 p.m. daily.

In 2017, the carrier stated it had picked Ontario because of its ability to reach 10 million potential passengers in the Southern California region while Taoyuan International is the primary international gateway airport for the New Taipei–Keelung–Taoyuan City metro area, with more than 9 million residents, according to the authority.

The airline currently serves San Francisco, Hawaii, Guam and New York. It also has had a route to Los Angeles since 1971.

With the Chinese service underway, other international airliners will be keeping an eye on the airport, Wapner said.

While international traffic at the airport is expected to go up, the demand for domestic flights also will go up, Wapner said.

In February, the airport saw a double-digit increase in passengers and cargo for the second consecutive month, according to the latest figures from the Ontario International Airport Authority.

“I think there’s a sense of pride throughout the community that we’ve been able to achieve this,” Wapner said. “We certainly see it as a large stepping stone in our future.”