Ontario, California – The Ontario International Airport Authority released the following statement on the death of Southwest Airlines co-founder Herb Kelleher. It should be attributed to Mark A. Thorpe, chief executive officer:
“We mourn the death of Herb Kelleher, a loyal friend and early supporter of Ontario International Airport. A visionary who recognized the importance of the Inland Empire in Southern California aviation, Herb made the decision himself to bring Southwest to Ontario in 1985, establishing our airport as a viable enterprise in what was then a new frontier in our industry. He brought his low-cost approach to flying to Ontario at a time when commercial air service was out of reach of many Americans.
“Southwest has been our most significant airline partner since Herb made that fateful decision, and we will always remember with profound gratitude his ability to see clearly opportunities that others could not.
“Herb Kellher was a trusted friend of Ontario for more than three decades and we will forever hold his memory dear. We share the grief of the many employees of Southwest Airlines, present and past, and mourn the passing of ‘The Love Field Legend.’”
