Rental car building now open at airport
The John Glenn Columbus International Airport now has a standalone building for rental car companies and a bus service to carry passengers to the new structure.
The previous space was located in the airport parking garage and required a short walk from the airport terminal, but now an electric bus service will ferry passengers back and forth.
An airport representative said the $134 million rental car center, which opened this week, should shorten turnaround times for the rental car companies, which have to service, wash and refuel cars as soon as the vehicles are returned.
The rental car center includes a multi-level refueling space where all of the maintenance can be done quickly in one place.
“That whole process from the car being returned is only 15 minutes,” said Sarah Mcquaide, an airport spokesperson.
The new building also frees up roughly 1,700 parking spaces in the airport garage.
Nine major rental car companies will operate out of the center, which is a total of 900,000 square feet and includes a lounge with flourishes such as vending machines.
Mcquaide said the center is one of the largest projects in airport history.
“There’s a lot more space, and it’s a lot more modern and updated,” she said.
The airport had long term plans for a second terminal, and the rental car center will connect to that terminal once it is built, Mcquaide said. pcooley@dispatch.com @Patrickacooley