Hiring a car at smaller airports is tough. There isn’t enough business for rental companies to spend a lot of money providing a sales office, maintenance garage and secure parking. But the Zoop Mobility Network of Montreal has found a way around this (WO 02/089077).
Zoop’s rental cars are fitted with a wireless electronic door lock and immobiliser and are left unattended in the airport car park. On arrival, the traveller contacts a rental firm by cellphone, laptop or PDA giving personal details and credit card number. Then, using either satellite or cellphone transmitters, the rental company sends out a code to unlock the car.…
