Travelers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport, can now use ride‑hailing services Uber and Lyft for pickups.
Airport officials announced that, effective Jan. 1, drivers for Uber and Lyft are authorized to pick up passengers at the airport. All pickups must occur on the lower levels of the domestic and international terminals.
“With pickups being an option, we really think that things are going to take off at the airport,” said Sam Bond, general manager at Lyft. “I think it’s really going to be a huge driver of Lyft’s growth in 2017.”
The airport has installed new rideshare signage to direct travelers to the designated pickup areas. Because pickups are now centralized, loading at baggage claim is prohibited.
Passengers using Uber and Lyft will pay a $3.85 airport access fee in addition to their normal ride fare. This fee includes a $1.50 charge that also applies to taxi pickups and an additional $2.35 to cover permitting, security, maintenance and other ride‑share related costs, including a new waiting lot built for ride‑share drivers. No fee is charged for drop‑offs at the airport.
The Atlanta City Council approved ride‑hailing pickups at the airport in September 2016. Before that vote, Uber and Lyft were permitted to drop off passengers at Hartsfield‑Jackson but were barred from picking up.