LAX to end pickup time at Uber and Lyft
Frequent flyers, beware. Los Angeles International Airport will soon ban riding companies from picking up passengers outside the terminals, LAX officials said Thursday.
Starting October 29, travelers wishing to hop on an Uber or Lyft will be taken by shuttle bus to a parking lot next to Terminal 1, where they can book their tours, said Keith Wilschetz, Deputy Director of the Operations and Emergency Division in Los Angeles world airports. Departures at terminals will still be allowed.
The decision is in response to worsening airport congestion, which is undergoing a $ 1[ads1]4 billion overhaul of the aging road network and terminals. In recent months, construction has often required LAX to close some lanes. And because airlines have added routes, more are coming to the airport in general, Wilschetz said. Passenger volume increased from 63.7 million in 2012 to 87.5 million in 2018, according to LAX officials.
The increased use of ride-hailing services has also contributed to traffic, which sometimes backs up in nearby neighborhoods.
"We understand that trying to get into the central terminal area is a challenge and has been for a long time, and we have been working to make it a lot better," Wilschetz told The Times. "This is a way we can do it."
The news was first reported by Skift, a media company that covers the travel industry.
Passengers will wait three to five minutes for the cruise, Wilschetz said, and the trip should take no more than 15 minutes. The airport plans to reconfigure the lower level pavement to allow shuttles to have unobstructed access around the central terminal loop.
Travelers will also be able to walk to the parking lot for hiking trails, officials say. This will take about 18 minutes from terminal 4, the farthest area from the lot.
LAX will join other airports that have continuous bike rides in an effort to alleviate traffic. In June, San Francisco International Airport moved all domestic terminal pickups for Uber and Lyft to a central parking lot. Similar changes are also planned to take place at Boston Logan International Airport.
LAX officials said more information on the move will be released Friday morning.
