Rental car shortage leaves people stranded at Punta Gorda Airport

Some people flying into a Southwest Florida airport were left without a ride after rental cars they reserved weren’t there.

New Year’s in Florida is a family tradition for the Anglemeyers.

“We were just coming down really to visit some family down this way and spend a few days with them,” said Todd Angelmeyer.

But their vacation didn’t get off on the right foot after they arrived at the counter in Punta Gorda Airport’s Rental Car Center.

“When we got there, the manager essentially said we have no vehicles for you, they’re all rented out, there’s absolutely nothing we can do for you.”

Anglemeyer estimates more than a hundred others were in the same position Sunday night. He said no Ubers were around and the local taxi company was slammed trying to keep up.

“Some people are going to Marco Island, some people are going to Tampa; there’s like a two-hour ride ahead of them after a long flight from the Midwest. It was just crazy,” Anglemeyer said.

He said an employee told them they’d get a refund and wrote on a business card they’d be reimbursed for the $140 cab to Fort Myers Beach.

Enterprise said in a statement they “have been working closely with them [customers] to get them into vehicles and compensate them for their inconvenience,” and that “with the current travel environment, typical holiday travel trends have changed and the ability to predict – and quickly and safely accommodate those needs – has also changed.”

Full statement from Enterprise Holdings:

“We apologize to those customers and we have been working closely with them to get them into vehicles and compensate them for their inconvenience. With the current travel environment, typical holiday travel trends have changed and the ability to predict – and quickly and safely accommodate those needs – has also changed. Safety and cleanliness, while always a primary focus, is more important now than ever. We have continued to bring in vehicles over the past 48 hours to meet demand and will continue to do so as needed.”