Travelers arriving at the Long Beach Airport will now be able to access rental car operations through the airport’s Historic Terminal, starting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, city officials said.
The move brings rental car operations and services from across Donald Douglas Drive, where they have been for nearly 22 years, into the renovated and historically preserved terminal.
“We poured so much into this Historic Terminal; it has been a labor of love and really preserving this beautiful building, and today, we’re here to commemorate its next chapter,” Cynthia Guidry, director of the Long Beach Airport, said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the relocation on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
“Rental car operations are essential to the operation of this airport,” Guidry added, “as travelers need to find a mode of getting around the city and the region.”
City leaders and representatives of Long Beach Airport’s rental car operations held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, to welcome the agencies into the Historic Terminal for operation. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Rental car operations will be moving from outside into the Historic Terminal at the Long Beach Airport starting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Rental car operations will be moving to the Historic Terminal at the Long Beach Airport starting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Rental car operations will be moving from outside into the Historic Terminal at the Long Beach Airport starting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
City leaders and representatives of Long Beach Airport’s rental car operations held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, to welcome the agencies into the Historic Terminal for operation. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Travelers arriving at the Long Beach Airport on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 16, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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City leaders and representatives of Long Beach Airport’s rental car operations held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, to welcome the agencies into the Historic Terminal for operation. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Historic Terminal has newly installed counters for Avis; Budget, Enterprise, National and Alamo; and Hertz. The airport will also welcome Dollar and Thrifty as the new addition to car rental options for passengers on Wednesday, Guidry said.
“It’s amazing to see how this terminal has continually evolved while keeping its historic character intact,” Councilmember Megan Kerr, whose Fifth District includes the airport, said during the ceremony. “Bringing the rental operations inside supports a more seamless customer experience. It strengthens an important service that drives success here at the airport and on mornings like today, when there is unexpected rain, it makes that travel experience even better here at Long Beach Airport.”
The rental car customer service improvements were part of the airport’s Phase II Terminal Area Improvement Program, which allocated $125 million to making strategic pre-security enhancements to LGB, according to its website. The grand reopening of the Historic Terminal last year allowed for this project, along with five others, to be completed to improve the traveler experience – such as the ticketing lobby and baggage claim area improvements.
“This used to be the space where all the airline ticket counters were prior,” Guidry said about the Historic Terminal, “and so bringing that life back to this building is so important.”
City officials said it was a natural progression for travelers to head from the concourse straight into the Historic Terminal to be able to access rental car services. More people will be able to experience the restored building if they haven’t yet been inside.
“We pride ourselves on ease of experience here and the friendliness of our staff, and making it so that people and families traveling through here feel welcome and comfortable,” Kerr said in an interview. “I think it adds to the experience of not having to walk into what was supposed to be a temporary bungalow 22 years ago, into this beautiful space where folks are working at the counters, kids have space to run around, and they have places to be comfortable, sit and relax. It will hopefully add to people loving their experience here.”