Travelers renting cars at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) could soon be paying into a much bigger pot for Pinellas County.
New five-year concession agreements with Enterprise, National, Alamo, Avis and Budget would push PIE's estimated monthly rental-car revenue from about $327,476 to $470,169, a 43.6% jump that adds up to roughly $28.2 million over the life of the contracts, Tampa Bay Business & Wealth reported Aug. 21.
The Pinellas County Commission is scheduled to vote on the contracts Tuesday, Aug. 25. If approved, the new terms would take effect Oct. 1 and run through Sept. 30, 2031.
How the Revenue Breaks Down Among Rental Companies
Enterprise Leasing Company of Florida holds the largest share, accounting for nearly $19.8 million of the five-year total through its Enterprise and National brands plus a separate Alamo agreement. Avis Budget Car Rental covers the remaining $8.43 million.
Those figures represent minimum annual guarantees submitted by the operators. The airport can collect more: Each company pays 10% of its gross revenue when that amount exceeds its guaranteed minimum. The contracts also require separate payments for terminal counter space and rental-car parking, adding another revenue stream beyond the concession fees.
PIE's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes about $4.4 million in rental-car commission revenue. Florida law requires county budgets to include 95% of reasonably anticipated receipts.
A Record-Breaking Year of Passenger Traffic Is Driving the Increase
The higher guarantees arrive after PIE set an all-time record in 2025 with 2,794,067 passengers, a 14% increase over 2024, according to PIE's annual report. Year-to-date traffic through July 2026 is on par with 2025, with 319,033 passengers in July alone — a 1% decrease from July 2025.
New Allegiant routes to Philadelphia in October and Columbia, Missouri, in November could push those numbers higher still.
A $145 Million Terminal Project Is Also Moving Forward
Airport Director Mark Sprague, who was named to the permanent role in March after serving as deputy director and then interim director, is also steering a separate $145 million terminal modernization. The County Commission is expected to consider contract updates for that project in September.
Tuesday's vote on the rental-car agreements is scheduled for the commission's regular meeting. The meeting is open to the public.
