Rental Cars Remain Idle in Arizona During Coronavirus Pandemic
With the Coronavirus pandemic causing a halt in travel, hundreds of unused rental vehicles are parked at several lots around Phoenix. Springtime is usually a busy tourist season for Arizona.
Car rentals nationwide are down 80%.
Photo courtesy of Brian McGloin/U.S. Air Force.
Hundreds of unused rental vehicles are parked at the special events lots at Arizona’s Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, according to a report by USA Today. The Coronavirus pandemic has caused Arizona’s normally busy spring travel season to come to a halt.
In addition to parking at the airport’s special events lots, rental car companies are also using parking spots at the airport’s rental car center, lots on Tonto and Madison streets, the private lot at the former Phoenix Greyhound Park, and lots at Goodyear Airport to store their unused vehicles, Heather Shelbrack, Sky Harbor Airport spokeswoman, told USA Today.
“What you’re seeing at Sky Harbor is being repeated across the nation at many different airports,” Gregory Scott, spokesman for the American Car Rental Association (ACRA), told USA Today.
Car rentals nationwide are down 80%, according to Scott.
Another issue facing the rental car industry is the airport fee charged to companies operating at the airport. Most rental companies’ airport contracts include a guaranteed minimum on those fees – usually around 10% of their expected yearly gross revenue, according to Scott.
More Rental Operations
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →