Rental Car Operations to be Consolidated at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

New Facility Will Benefit Travelers & Car Rental Companies

PHOENIX, May 1 -- Construction will begin on Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport's rental car facility this fall. This project will free up space in the airport's terminals and garages, decrease traffic through the core of the airport, reduce confusion for travelers and provide "a consistent and level playing field for all car rental companies" according to Sky Harbor Special Projects Administrator, Tamie Fisher.

The facility will house all of the car rental companies that serve Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. When it opens in late 2005, passengers who wish to rent cars will no longer have to seek out individual rental agency buses at the airport curbs. Instead, one common bus will carry them to the nearby consolidated car rental facility. All of the rental agency counters and vehicles will be in one location. When customers return their rental cars, they will go to that same facility, and board a bus to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The bus ride is expected to be under ten minutes, about the same length of time customers now experience with off-airport car rental companies.

The rental car rental facility is anticipated to consist of a three-level structured parking deck with a customer service building on top. It will be located between 16th Street and Interstate 10, and between Sky Harbor Circle South and Interstate 17. The facility is being designed to fit in with the Sky Harbor Center corporate business image.

Phoenix has the sixth largest rental car market in the United States.

Conveniently located in the heart of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, Sky Harbor ranks as the 5th busiest U.S. airport for aircraft operations; 6th busiest U.S. airport for passenger traffic; and 11th busiest airport in the world for passenger traffic for 2002. Offering an average of 1,600 daily commercial airline flights, Sky Harbor serves 108 cities with non-stop flights, including non-stop destinations in the UK, Germany, Mexico and Canada. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport boasts more than 350 perfect flying days per year. For more information about Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport log on to www.phxskyharbor.com .