HANOVER TWP., Lehigh County, Pa. — Peer-to-peer car rental company Turo secured an agreement Tuesday to operate at Lehigh Valley International Airport.
The Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, which oversees LVIA, voted unanimously to finalize the arrangement.
Turo is only a marketplace for people to offer their personal cars for rent; someone with a vehicle they are not using can list it on the service and connect with someone else looking to rent.
A customer can arrange to pick up their rental just about anywhere, including at many airports.
“We're pretty sure Turo is actually operating at the airport now without an agreement. We've had a good negotiation with them to come to terms.”Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority Business Development Manager Darren Betters
“We're pretty sure Turo is actually operating at the airport now without an agreement,” Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority Business Development Manager Darren Betters said.
“We've had a good negotiation with them to come to terms.”
Under the new arrangement, the airport authority will get 10 percent of the revenue from each rental that a customer picks up or drops off at LVIA.
'We are thilled'
The authority will rely on Turo to accurately report its dues, but could audit the company’s accounting of airport fees.
The new fee is unlikely to amount to “a significant number,” airport authority Executive Director Tom Stoudt said.
“I think from my perspective, trying to make sure that we are providing appropriate insurance coverages and indemnifications for the operation on the property, that was really the driver here.”Lehigh Valley Airport Authority Executive Director Tom Stoudt
“I think from my perspective,” he said, “trying to make sure that we are providing appropriate insurance coverages and indemnifications for the operation on the property, that was really the driver here.”
Turo spokeswoman Catherine Mejia wrote in an email statement Tuesday that "we are thrilled the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority voted unanimously to help meet consumer demand in the area with this new partnership.
“Lehigh Valley International Airport is now the fourth airport in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and one of more than 100 airports across the U.S., to enter into a carsharing agreement with Turo.”
