Hertz expects 50 percent jump in business

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Hertz Car Rental business anticipates a 50 percent jump in business when commercial air service is restored at the Grant County International Airport on June 5.

The estimate is based on the amount of phone calls the business already received to rent cars from SkyWest Airlines customers, said Jeff Akridge, who currently runs the business from Columbia Pacific Aviation.

Trips are being planned because customers can buy airline tickets online.

“We hope to see an immediate jump,” he said. “It’s important we have car rental and the airline together. It’s  very difficult to operate one without the other.”

He is president of the aviation company, which is located on the same street as the airport.

A Hertz business counter will open at the airport’s terminal on June 5 and will be reserved for airline customers. Other Hertz customers will be helped at the Columbia Pacific Aviation office.

The business has available roughly 15 to 25 cars. As a member of the Hertz Northwest Automotive Group, Akridge can pull from 350 cars at one time.

“If we have the need, we can get them,” he explained.

If the need grows, he will hire other employees.

Hertz also offers one-way rentals to “pretty much anywhere in the U.S.,” he said.

On June 5, SkyWest Airlines will offer flights twice a day to Seattle. Until then, travelers must drive to Seattle, Pasco or Spokane for air service.

Air service in Moses Lake ended about two years ago when a federal air service subsidy was ended.