For 50 years, the City of Los Angeles controlled Ontario International Airport. But after a bitter battle, that's changed.

In November 2016, the airport was officially transferred to local control under the City of Ontario and San Bernardino County.

The airport has seen some major changes since then, especially over the last year.

Among the changes, Frontier Airlines now offers nonstop service to Orlando, Florida, and JetBlue returned after 10 years to begin offering daily nonstop service to New York City's JFK.

At the airport's terminal, eight new restaurants have opened their doors, and Delta just announced a new nonstop flight to Atlanta that will begin service in the summer of 2019.

Even more new destinations may soon be in the works, according to one man who just might know the Ontario Airport better than anyone else.

While it's seen a lot of changes over the years, one thing that has remained a constant fixture at the airport is Myron Saulpaugh.

"I can remember going on vacation and I couldn't wait for vacation to be over so I could get back to work," said Saulpaugh.

Saulpaugh started working at the airport in the 1970s and, although he officially retired in 2016, he still comes into the airport most days.

"I think it's great. Just like a long marriage is great," said Saulpaugh, who currently volunteers as president of the Friends of the Ontario Airport, an organization dedicated to the facility's advancement.

According to San Bernardino County officials, that advancement has accelerated dramatically since the last of the L.A. World Airports workers pulled out of Ontario earlier this year.

"The airport is going crazy," said Saulpaugh.

After being controlled by LAX for a decade, Ontario Airport does appear to be thriving since assuming independence. Air traffic is up 13 percent, with cargo up nearly 18 percent.

"Amazon Prime started with one flight 3 1/2, four years ago," said Saulpaugh. "Now I think they have 14 flights a day."

In another major step forward for the international airport, China Airlines has added a new, daily non-stop flight to Taiwan. It's the airport's first daily international flight outside of Mexico and a welcome alternative for some passengers who previously would've flown out of LAX.

"LAX is unbearable," said one China Airlines passenger.

But even with the new restaurants, airlines, and additional flights, Saulpaugh admits more is needed.

"That's the big thing right now. We don't have enough destinations and we're working on that," he said.

What destination would he like to see added?

"Non-stops to Hawaii," said Saulpaugh.