LV’s Airport Rent-A-Car franchise acquired

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999 | 11:32 a.m.

Qualcar LLC, which operates Thrifty Car Rental of Las Vegas, has acquired Airport Rent-A-Car and took over its counter space at McCarran International Airport.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

David Rosen, chief executive officer of the Thrifty franchise in Las Vegas and in San Diego, Palm Springs and Orange County, Calif., said the deal also gives Thrifty in-terminal rights at Las Vegas Executive Air Terminal at McCarran and Henderson Executive Air Terminal.

Thrifty will continue to operate its off-airport location at 376 E. Warm Springs Road. The acquisition will increase Thrifty's Las Vegas fleet by about 30 percent.

Rosen said Thrifty has 75 Las Vegas employees and the expansion will allow the company to add about 20 more. Airport Rent-A-Car owners Bernie and Mary Jane Kaufman, Las Vegas business operators for more than 30 years, joined Thrifty in executive roles and some former Airport employees will be hired by the company.

Thrifty took over 8-year-old Airport Rent-A-Car's counter near McCarran's baggage claim center Sunday. Rosen said an airport presence for Thrifty should result in a 30 percent increase in business.

Thrifty's corporate headquarters is in Tulsa, Okla.