Malta Airport increases car depot rent by 2200%

Car rental companies operating from the Malta International Airport may have to pay hefty fees if they want to continue using the parking lot to park their cars. The private company which operates the airport is asking the companies to pay an annual fee of €267,878 to use the parking lot where tourists in the past have picked up their rentals when they arrive in Malta.

Owners of car rental companies operating from the airport were told at the annual meeting of the Rent a Car Association (RACA). Dr Emmanuel Mallia, the secretary general, told the car company owners that rent on the 182-car lot would increase by 2,200 per cent.

The RACA has paid just €11,647 a year until 2007, when the airport was owned by the government but the airport recently came into private ownership and things are changing. The airport is now asking for three years of rent in advance, totalling a payment of €803,634.

The parking space allows the rental companies to offer a high level of service to their customers because the rental cars can be picked up just outside the airport. Its also a convenient space for drivers to park when dropping off the car and catching their return flight home.

The association has not yet reached a decision on the matter. They have approached the government about building another car depot area close to the airport.

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