WILMINGTON, Delaware -- A bankruptcy court on May 3 cleared the way for ANC Rental Corp. to combine its Alamo and National operations at four additional airports. The airports are located in Las Vegas, Houston (Hobby Airport), Memphis and Melbourne, Fla.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Mary F. Walrath granted ANC the authority to reject each existing concession agreement between Alamo and the airport authorities in these cities. ANC will instead operate both brands under the terms of each airport authority's contract with National Car Rental.

ANC, which filed for bankruptcy protection last November, has already combined Alamo and National operations at airports serving Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Springfield, Mo.; Huntsville, Ala.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Hartford, Conn.

However, both Hertz and Avis are challenging ANC's right to consolidate its Alamo and National brands under one concession agreement. The two companies have filed lawsuits against some airport authorities that have given ANC the green light to operate dual-branded facilities.