Lakeland Linder airport lands its first agreement for car rentals. Who is it?
LAKELAND — Lakeland Linder International Airport might be ready to help visitors drive away before they can fly.
Lakeland officials voted 6-0 Monday to approve a deal that will bring Avis Budget Car Rentals LLC to the airport. It's the first concession agreement to be signed since Lakeland Linder announced in December that it struck a deal to bring in commercial airline service with Avelo Airlines.
Under the agreement, Avis will enter a five-year, non-exclusive agreement to operate car rentals at the airport. There is an option to renew for an additional five years, if both parties agree. Avis was rated the best budget car rental company in 2024 by U.S. News & World Report.
Avis will pay $619.67 in rent per month for two rental counters with office space inside the airport, totaling about 338 square feet. The company will occupy two rental counters as it plans on bringing both its Avis and Budget brands, according to Lakeland Linder Assistant Director Adam Lunn.
The car rental company will pay the city an additional $150 per month to reserve 45 of the airport's 404 paved parking spaces for its fleet of vehicles. It will have use of the spaces in the eastern parking island closest to the airport terminal.
In addition to the monthly rental fees, Lakeland Linder struck a deal in which Avis and Budget will concessionaire fees to the city based upon individual car rentals. The car rental company will pay 15% of its gross revenue for on-airport rental and 10% of all off-airport rentals to the city, in addition to a $4.95 quick turnaround fee. This fee is charged for each time Avis or Budget need to clean up a car for its next customer.
The city's concessionaire agreement with Avis Budget is effective immediately, while Avelo still has yet to announce its intended routes or when flights will begin.
"They are eager to make an announcement," Lunn told city commissioners on Friday. "They have not disclosed the initial routes to us yet. They are currently waiting for the Transportation Security Administration to approve our airport security program."
Lunn said the airport's provisions were complete but need to undergo one last review. He hopes to have the plans completed within the next two weeks.
"It is hopefully imminent," he said.
Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Avis, Budget car rentals will soon be operating out of Lakeland Linder
