Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Van Rental Company Gives Update on Houston Location

With heavy rains still coming down, there is no way to get in and out of Airport Van Rental’s (AVR) location near Houston International Airport.

by Staff
August 28, 2017
Van Rental Company Gives Update on Houston Location

Houston's 69 freeway has been shut down. Photo courtesy of Airport Van Rental.

2 min to read


Houston's 69 freeway has been shut down. Photo courtesy of Airport Van Rental.

With heavy rains still coming down, there is no way to get in and out of Airport Van Rental’s (AVR) location near Houston International Airport.

“The exit to our Houston location is closed and the street that the location sits on is flooded,” says Cesar Leyva, AVR’s vice president of fleet operations. “Both airports in Houston are closed and all freeways are closed or impassable.”

Ad Loading...

At this point, Yaz Irani, founder and CEO of AVR, doesn’t know the extent of flooding to AVR’s location in Houston. With no way in or out, the store can’t be open at this time.

“Located outside Houston International Airport, our location sits a little higher so we are hoping that the location hasn’t flooded,” says Irani.

This photo was taken at a hotel near Houston International Airport by Executive Editor Chris Brown's wife Silvia Krasuk.

Many employees can’t leave their homes to try to go to work. With the heavy flooding, Leyva said that four employees are stuck inside their homes. One employee named Johneishia left her home and is now stuck in a hotel. Unfortunately, Johneishia lost her car and her home is completely flooded.

“We have told employees that their safety is the top priority,” says Irani. “We don’t want them to even consider trying to get to work until they feel that they can safely leave their homes. Safety of employees and their families is No. 1 right now.”

Johneishia, an employee at Airport Van Rental's location in Houston, had to be rescued from her car. She lost her car and her home was completely flooded.

Although AVR doesn't have a location in Dallas, the company has set up a temporary drop-off location in a parking lot in Dallas for customers to drop off their rental vans.

Ad Loading...

“We are contacting ou  r renters in Houston from our company’s central calling center,” says Irani. “They tell us where they are, and we are working with them to have them drop off the rental van at a convenient location. We will pick up the van later, whether that’s in Dallas or another area.”

The eye of the storm system is expected to make its second landfall in Houston on Tuesday afternoon.  In addition to the rain, the other threat is the overflowing of rivers and bayous. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has instructed for controlled releases of reservoirs around the city before they burst and the dams break.

“Unfortunately by slowly releasing the overflowing water, it will cause more flooding in Houston,” says Leyva. “The mayor has instructed that everyone stay inside until told it is safe to be on the road.”

Irani and other AVR employees are staying in touch with managers in Houston to offer any help.


More Rental Operations

Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 14, 2026

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026

Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.

Read More →
Bobby Klyce in memoriam image
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 13, 2026

In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend

The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.

Read More →
Vibe coding webinar promo image
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 12, 2026

How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]

A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Globe image with Text: GBTA Business Travel Forecast

Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027

Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.

Read More →
Car rental sign with financial graph in background
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 2, 2026

Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations

Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.

Read More →
car rental booking engine on computer screen with text: Bookings aren't the whole story
Rental OperationsAugust 1, 2026

Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day

A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownJuly 31, 2026

This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See

This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.

Read More →
A counter agent chats with a customer over a rental counter
Rental OperationsJuly 21, 2026

The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns

Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.

Read More →
U-Save Mauritius team

U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius

The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Back view of a remote driver in front of a screen delivering a car to a location.

Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030

A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.

Read More →
Ad Loading...