DFW Airport tries to put the brakes on car-sharing companies

Rising prices and demand for rental cars are driving travelers toward other ways of finding vehicles to use during their trips. Enter car-sharing platforms — cheaper car rentals booked directly through people in the nearby area. Although such platforms may benefit passengers, some airports are trying to reverse this growing trend. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport sued one such company — California-based Turo — and six people using the platform in October 2021 in the 352nd District of Tarrant County. The airport is seeking a permanent injunction against the company, trying to force it to cease all activity on airport property. A trial for the case is set for the week of April 24, 2023, according to court documents.

The airport’s board of directors also approved a resolution Aug. 4, requesting a change to the airport’s code of rules and regulations to allow illegally parked cars — such as the vehicles booked through the car-sharing platforms and left at terminals for passengers — to be towed. The previous code allowed the airport to tow any vehicle considered abandoned or parked in violation of the code if it represents an operational hazard. This amendment removed the latter part of that code. The airport’s media team declined the Fort Worth Report’s request for an interview but offered some details via email. In the email statement, the airport said that the amended code is “part of an enforcement effort by DFW to prevent the illegal use of parking facilities for rental car deliveries and the evasion of both airport fees and state and local rental car taxes.” Rental cars brought in about $33 million to the airport in 2022, placing third behind parking and concessions, according to the airport’s August financial report. Parking racked up $145 million in 2022 and concessions brought in $95 million. Airport staff informed the board of directors that these rental cars are identified through undercover transactions. Staff told the board that this action would not target mom-and-pops renting out one car but rather individuals with large fleets totaling 30 or more vehicles.