Lakeland Commissioners voted 6-0 Monday to approve a deal that will bring Avis Budget Car Rentals LLC to the airport.
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 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 needs 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.