San Diego Airport is making travel easier by allowing Uber and Lyft to start picking up all passengers at San Diego Airport immediately. The airport changed it taxi driver finger print requirement and worked with Uber and Lyft in order to allow Lyft and Uber X to be allowed to pick up customers at the airport under a pilot program which goes through June 30, 2016. Previously only Uber and Lyft drivers with taxi cab permits were able to pick up customers at San Diego Airport, restricting it primarily to Uber Plus or Uber Black.
The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority today signed permits for ride sharing companies Lyft and Uber to begin operations at San Diego International Airport (SAN) as part of a pilot program. The two ride sharing companies will begin operations at SAN immediately, augmenting existing service provided by Opoli.
Airport Authority staff has worked with the ride sharing industry over the past year to draft a permit for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) to operate at SAN. On Wednesday, the Airport Authority Board adopted a resolution that removes the fingerprinting requirement from the Airport Authority’s background check process for several ground transportation providers, including TNCs, taxi cab providers and shared ride vans or Vehicles for Hire. The TNCs will continue to conduct their own accredited background checks of their drivers. The decision helped facilitate the issuance of TNC permits while still ensuring a level playing field for all ground transportation providers at SAN.
“The Airport Authority always looks for ways to improve the customer experience for our passengers,” said Airport Authority Board Chair Robert Gleason. “We’re excited to offer the latest in-demand transportation options to the traveling public, and we’re doing so while keeping safety as a top priority.”
Many airports have sided with Taxi Cab unions and have shutout Uber and Lyft, meanwhile San Diego is leading the way by allowing expanded competition and MUCH cheaper rides from ride share apps. A taxi from San Diego Airport to Point Loma costs nearly $20 where as a Lyft or Uber X costs just $9! This is great news for travelers who are traveling to and from SAN.
