China Airlines (CI, Taipei Taoyuan) has confirmed it is studying the possibility of starting direct flights to Ontario International International Airport, a public facility serving the city of Ontario, in San Bernardino County, California.
The Taiwanese carrier said in a statement last week that given increasing demand for travel between Taiwan and California, it was looking at possible Taipei Taoyuan-Ontario flights.
"A new Taoyuan-Ontario service is now being actively planned in order to provide travelers with more options and greater convenience for Taiwan-US travel, as well as to boost bilateral corporations [sic] on business," it said. "The new route is now being studied by China Airlines and several recommendations have been proposed to Ontario International Airport. Necessary improvements are now being planned by Ontario as well."
Though China Airlines currently serves Los Angeles International, a recent market study it conducted said passengers, particularly those from the east side of Greater Los Angeles, would prefer to use Ontario given its convenience as well as shorter travel, immigration, and luggage retrieval times.
A formal agreement will be signed between the two parties to start the new service once all related preparations are completed.
Dynamic International Airways (Greensboro Piedmont Triad International) recently operated a series of 2x weekly return charter flights from Ontario to Nanchang International, China, using Anchorage Ted Stevens for a technical stop.
