Airport car rentals service takes flight

Airport parking is free, with a catch, in the United States – someone else drives your car while you’re away.

Cars left to Y Combinator-backed valet service FlightCar are rented to tourists at prices much lower than big hire car firms, and owners get a $10 fuel card and free wash.

“People have started to become more open to sharing,” says co-founder Shri Ganeshram, who hopes to expand globally.

Cars must be made in this century, not look trashed and have less than 241,400 kilometres on the clock.

“Our pricing strategy is to be the cheapest,” Ganeshram says.

Rental business are becoming a clear beneficiary of the economic climate, as consumers continue to tighten their belts, suggesting there’s an opportunity to do something similar to FlightCar.