Passengers arriving at Sydney International Airport have flocked to Uber’s new kerbside pickup zone since its opening on Tuesday, as the state’s peak taxi body projects the scheme will wipe $5 million from cab fares over the next year.
Up to 70 per cent of passengers at Sydney’s T1 international terminal kerbside pickup have opted for an Uber over nearby taxis since its rank and hail zone was rolled out on Tuesday morning, airport staff said, despite several passengers having trouble navigating the new system.
The queue for Ubers at Sydney airport’s international terminal. Credit: Nick Moir
The pickup zone, which is operating under a 12-month trial commissioned by the state government, allows travellers to book a vacant kerbside Uber using a PIN code on their phones rather than requesting a ride as they leave the airport.
Staff from Uber and the airport were busy instructing passengers arriving in Sydney on Thursday morning as many grappled with the new technology and the procedures.
Among them was Sydney native Francesca, who had finished a journey from Vancouver, which included a seven-hour layover in San Francisco.
She found the new system to appear a “little bit disorganised”, while travellers from the US and Vietnam also shared difficulties booking an Uber.
Uber has acknowledged the system’s teething problems and will place new signs and instructions in the zone to assist travellers with their journey.
“We apologise to any passengers caught in the initial delays, and we are confident that these changes will result in a smoother experience,” an Uber spokesperson said.
The rank and hail zone has drawn fury from Sydney’s taxi drivers, who refused to accept passenger fares from the airport last Wednesday during a day-long strike against the trial.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the Uber trial would give passengers “as many transport choices as possible after a long flight” and help to reduce congestion and waiting times at the airport.
Taxi drivers are furious about a new Uber kerbside pickup trial at Sydney Airport.Credit: Lee Besford
NSW Taxi Council chief executive Nick Abrahim estimated the trial would reduce airport fare revenue by 20 per cent over the next year, costing drivers a total of $5 million, which could balloon if the trial is extended.
Uber was granted an exemption to state transport regulations to operate a rank and hail service, which is typically reserved for taxis.
Government officers have been placed at the kerbside zone to monitor the trial as a safety condition under the exemption. A boom gate blocking Uber drivers not involved in the trial will also be erected.
Taxi drivers at the airport on Thursday morning voiced disgruntlement with the Uber zone, while transport staff reported verbal altercations between taxi and Uber drivers in the past week.
Abrahim accused the state government of making a “mockery” of transport regulations by granting Uber an exemption, saying they “don’t need to change the rules to encourage competition”.
“We’ve got to keep raising that standard, and we’ve got to be better,” Abrahim said.
“But … we need government to get out of the way and not change the rules to suit a provider.”
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