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
Stop Losing Money On Rental Tolls
Regardless of your rental fleet size and structure, fleet managers, executives, and owners can gain valuable insights into an often-overlooked area of fleet operations.
Read More →
Rethink The Future To Avert A Race To The Bottom
Rental car operators heard a sobering industry message and a stern challenge at the close of the International Car Rental Show.
Read More →
DriveItAway, Free2move Plan Shared Fleet Program for Independent Rental Fleet Operators
Vehicles would be placed with participating rental operations to support car renter demand and provide additional fleet capacity.
Read More →
Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk
Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.
Read More →
Green Motion And U-Save Open Rental Operations In Guatemala
The brands will open their first rental car outlets in the country at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.
Read More →
U.S. Business Travel Drives $623 Billion+ in Economic Impact as Spending Reaches $538 Billion
The data also underscores the industry’s strong multiplier effect across the U.S. economy, revealing that each dollar invested in business travel in 2024 generated $1.16 in GDP.
Read More →
Rental Fleet Sales Skating Just Above 2025 Levels
The U.S. economy's continued growth and positive business investment are creating a favorable environment for fleet vehicle demand.
Read More →
Grow Your Rental Business Beyond Cars
Rental fleet operations are facing numerous evolving challenges and opportunities from AI technology to rate and revenue management, to customer service and business growth.
Read More →
Using AI to Create Clarity, Not Conflict, in Rental Car Damage
Rental companies still need people, policy, judgment, and thoughtful implementation, with operators remaining in control of the customer experience.
Read More →
Get Ready To Roll: No Stopping Self-Driving Rental Cars
The autonomous mobility technology revolution will move at its own pace, but sooner rather than later.
Read More →