Uber change coming to major Aussie airport

Rideshare behemoth Uber has secured a new dedicated kerbside pick-up zone at Sydney Airport’s international terminal.

The zone is about 20m from the terminal doors at the southern end of the T1 taxi area and passengers can book trips from the pick-up spot from Tuesday.

Sydney Airport executive Mark Zaouk said a surge in popularity in rideshare travel had propelled the change.

“The popularity of rideshare has surged over the past few years and it’s great to give passengers what they’ve been asking for, which is an Uber zone that is much closer to the terminals, in line with the experience at other major Australian and global airports,” he said.

“This innovation will redefine airport accessibility and set a new standard for modern travel at Australia’s gateway.”

According to data from the airport, rideshare pick-ups and drop offs accounted for 10 per cent of travel modes at the terminal in the six months to June 18.

In the six months to June 2024, the proportion was 41 per cent.

Conversely, taxi pick-ups and drop-offs have declined, the data shows.

In 2018, taxis accounted for 57 per cent of pick-ups and drop-offs, but accounted for 27 per cent in June.

Uber ANZ managing director Emma Foley said the dedicated space for Uber pick-ups would provide a “smoother and more efficient experiences” for riders and drivers.

The change has angered the taxi industry.

NSW Taxi Council chief executive Nick Abrahim said the new arrangement gave Uber an unfair advantage over taxi drivers.

Rideshare companies are typically forbidden from picking up passengers via “rank and hail”, or without a booking.

Mr Abrahim said the airport’s move contravened this practice.

“There are clear laws in place forbidding rideshare companies from picking up passengers without a booking,” he said.

“This is what the NSW government is now allowing.

“They’ve given Uber an exemption from that law to be able to get around that piece of regulation.”

He also said Uber drivers did not carry the compliance costs borne by taxi drivers.

“If want to provide rank and hail, you need cameras, duress alarms, GPS tracking, signs and markings and equipment.

“Uber has none of this and yet they are still able to access this piece of the market.”

He said Uber’s intrusion into the pick-up zone would erode the earnings of taxi drivers.

“There’s also the human side of it, the financial impact,” he said.

“The rank-and-hail fares are going to erode further, impacting drivers.

“Who is looking after that?”

Arrangements for drop-off remain the same, the airport said.

Travellers opting for other rideshare companies must still walk the same distance to the pre-existing zone.

There will be seven bays for the Ubers at the zone.

To secure a pick-up, travellers request an Uber trip and receive a six-digit PIN number.

They then walk to the pick-up zone and go to the first available car or join the queue.

The traveller then shares the PIN with the driver and verifies the vehicle and driver before getting into the vehicle.

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