But ash crisis hits car rental industry hard
Wednesday, 30 Apr, 2010
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Disruption caused by the volcanic ash crisis has cost the car rental industry €65 million, according to CarTrawler.
The car rental distribution system company estimates 22% of global car rental bookings were cancelled with more than 95% of passengers not collecting their rental at most European airports.
The ash cloud crisis also meant that car rental companies were subject to some limited negative press as consumers requested international one-way rentals, according to the company.
One-way rentals are more expensive due to the logistics involved in transporting cars back across borders compounded with the loss of rental days while cars are being repatriated to their native countries.
CarTrawler CEO Greg Turley said: “The eruption caused enormous difficulties for the car rental industry and particularly in the area of fleet management.
"Car rental companies received a large demand for international one-way rentals from travellers who were stuck abroad and needed to make their way home by road.
"However, the subsequent logistical difficulties in returning the vehicles have resulted in nearly 10% of car rental fleets being located outside their home country.
“This crisis will particularly impact independent companies based in holiday destinations as tourists were not able to pick up their reserved vehicles.
"Car rental companies operating in island economies were the most severely affected as travellers could not make it to the airport by other means to pick up their car."
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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