Press Room

Posted on: Thu, 08/25/2016 - 09:21

Ontario, Calif. – August 25, 2016 — The Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) today announced the hiring of Mark Thorpe as Chief Development Officer.

Thorpe has extensive experience in air service development at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). In his role at LAWA, he was instrumental in attracting multiple airlines to begin service at Ontario International Airport. The OIAA, a joint powers agency formed by the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino, is on track to assume ownership and control of Ontario International Airport (ONT) in the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to final Federal Aviation Administration approval.

“Mark Thorpe is one of the airport industry’s most capable and accomplished growth strategy leaders and business development experts,” said OIAA President and Ontario City Councilman Alan D. Wapner. “He has a track record of success at Ontario, and we look forward to his return so he can begin rebuilding the service that this region craves and deserves.”

“I am very pleased to have Mark joining us as our first Chief Development Officer, overseeing all commercial business, passenger, cargo and property development at ONT,” said OIAA CEO Kelly J. Fredericks. “Mark’s intimate understanding of the Southern California market, combined with his exposure to airport best practices and key industry contacts domestically and internationally, will bring tremendous value to OIAA as we expand all facets of our ONT airport business model.”

“I know Ontario’s tremendous potential for growth from first-hand experience,” Thorpe said. “I’m delighted to be coming back here, and I’m eager to begin the hard work necessary to enable this airport to reach that potential.”

Thorpe has more than 17 years of experience in the aviation industry.

In his most recent position at DFW, Thorpe oversaw the newly formed Cargo Business Development group, leading the airport’s business development efforts with freight forwarders, supply chain managers, shippers, and airport cargo handlers. Prior to that, he was DFW’s assistant vice president of air service development. In that role, he devised a growth strategy that attracted 11 new passenger airlines to launch service at DFW and spurred dramatic increases in international service.

Prior to joining DFW, Thorpe was LAWA’s director of air service development and marketing, where he was responsible for all passenger and cargo development efforts for LAX and ONT. During that time, he recruited four new airlines to ONT that launched service to 16 new destinations in the U.S. and Mexico, helping the airport reach record passenger traffic levels from 2005 to 2007.

Before beginning his airport management career, Thorpe was a management consultant and attorney for airlines, airport and federal regulatory agencies, and airport privatization interests.

He has work experience in more than 40 countries in the Asia/Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Thorpe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Arizona State University, and juris doctorate and Masters of Business Administration degrees in finance and marketing from George Washington University. He speaks English and Spanish fluently.