Bids submitted for limousine, shuttle bus slots at McCarran

Nine companies and one joint venture have submitted bids for four limousine and shuttle bus slots at McCarran International Airport.

Six companies now operate there, but airport management decided to cut back as airline passenger traffic declined following 2007. The limos and shuttle buses also saw declines, and at least one has had trouble making its monthly rent payments to the airport.

Traffic has started to rebound this year. But starting in June, when the new Terminal 3 opens, the limos and shuttles will have to split between two locations instead of picking up most passengers at Terminal 1.

All six of the incumbent companies -- AWG Ambassador, CLS, Coach America, Executive, Showtime and Whittlesea-Bell -- submitted bids. ODS, Airline and Omni will also try to break into the lineup. ODS and Showtime also made a joint bid, following the airport management's encouragement of companies with both bus and limo fleets.

In line with state law, the terms will not be divulged until the final selections go to the Clark County Commission at an undetermined date. A key consideration is the minimum annual rent a company is willing to pay.