Budget Car Rental pulls out of Watertown Regional Airport

August 29, 2023

Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Watertown Regional Airport, which provides non-stop commercial jet service to Denver and Chicago O’Hare via Denver Air Connection, is now without a car rental agency.

Airport Manager Rob Cyrus confirms with KWAT News that Budget Car Rental has permanently pulled out of the airport due to staffing issues, effective immediately.

He says the on-site manager recently quit, and the lone remaining employee, who was new to the job, quit as well, leaving them with no one to staff the desk.

Cyrus says a request for proposals, or RFP,  is being sent out to car rental agencies to see if there’s any interest in replacing Budget.

He says any offers that come in will be reviewed by the airport board, which would make a recommendation to the city council for consideration, likely in October.