In one fell swoop, John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) in Ohio made it easier for travelers to pick up/return rental cars, improved efficiency for rental companies and gained 1,700 parking spaces. How did it achieve this operational trifecta' By building a new $134 million rental car center that was funded by customer facility charges instituted back in 2007.
The new Ground Transportation Center that opened this spring at Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) in Islip, NY, combines facilities for rental car agencies with space for local buses, hotel courtesy shuttles and private vehicles working through Uber, Lyft and other app-based ride-hailing services.
If there is one through line for the new rental car and ground transportation center at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), it is convenience. Chief Executive Officer Candace McGraw describes the 1.57 million-square-foot facility as 'a walkable solution' that saves travelers time by connecting them directly to the baggage claim and ticketing areas, and eliminating the need to ride shuttles to get rental cars.
Airport operators short on usable real estate might want to check out what's happening at San Diego International (SAN), an airport that is boxed in by both land and water. Using a digital system to dispatch taxis has allowed SAN to significantly decrease the land needed for its taxi hold lot and freed up valuable space for other uses.
When air travel hit the skids in 2020, rental car companies struggled right alongside airlines and airports. With business slowing to a trickle, rental fleets were decimated by the sale of dormant vehicles. Hertz reported a 40% reduction in cars between the end of 2019 and the end of 2020.
Recognizing the need to improve ground transportation flow, the airport operations team zeroed in on traffic from app-based transportation network companies (TNCs) such as Lyft and Uber. In mid-August, IAD debuted what it calls the third curb, an area dedicated solely to TNC pickups. The new system is designed not only to relieve congestion at the curb, but also to make it easier for passengers using app-based ride services to connect with their drivers.
The emergence of transportation network companies, or TNCs, has been a charged topic in Austin, TX. Uber and Lyft left abruptly in 2016 after a squabble with the city over fingerprinting requirements. One year later, the regulation shifted, and they were back in the city and operating in full force at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
When San Antonio International Airport (SAT) launched its $178 million consolidated rental car facility project in 2015, it was a direct response to customer requests for more convenience. Before the new facility was built, each rental car company operated out of its own satellite facility and provided its own shuttle service to and from the airport.
With its 10-year shuttle bus agreement nearing expiration a couple years ago, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority seized the opportunity to investigate alternative fuel options for Nashville International Airport (BNA).
Valentine's Day was extra sweet for Tampa International Airport (TPA) this year. The growing Florida facility opened two substantial new pieces of infrastructure to the public: a $323 million consolidated rental car center and a $412 million automated people mover. Both projects were designed to reduce curbside congestion at the terminal, improve customer service and pave the way for future passenger growth.
A growing number of U.S. airports are replacing their fossil fuel-burning courtesy buses with electric vehicles, spurred by the promise of smaller carbon footprints and lower operating costs. FAA grants that subsidize emission-free technologies and a smoother, quieter ride for passengers also sweeten the deal.
After years of negotiations, the design of the Multi-Modal Transportation Center at Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) finally hit all the right notes for airport officials and the rental car, bus and taxi operators that serve the new facility. With the $5.5 million project complete, residents and visitors in Allentown, PA, are set to benefit for years to come.
