Ride-hailing companies Uber Technologies and Lyft have secured approval to soon pick and drop passengers at the Los Angeles International Airport and the McCarran International Airport in the US.
The 9-6 vote by the Los Angeles City Council makes Los Angeles airport the largest air hub to implement the service.
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Undisclosed aides to council members were quoted by Reuters as saying that the vote affirmed an action taken by members of the local airport commission in June.
A review process was opened after that as a few council members had concerns about the service.
The move was also opposed by taxi drivers and taxi companies, who have been lobbying against mobile phone-based taxi services in many parts of the country.
Under the plan, the officials have called for the creation of a geo-fence system that uses GPS technology to prevent ride-hailing service drivers from parking near the airport to receive pickup requests more easily.
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By GlobalDataCouncilman Mike Bonin spokesman David Graham-Caso said UberX and Lyft have to demonstrate that they can function within the geo-fence range before they can begin picking passengers.
“This agreement is a big win for passengers, by giving them more safe and convenient options to get home from the airport.”
This demonstration process will be completed within a few weeks, and is being executed to prevent unfair practises among taxi drivers.
At McCarran airport, Uber and Lyft can drop off their customers at departure curbs at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, at doors that lead to the airline ticket counters, reported Las-Vegas Review Journal.
However, the pick-up facility differs slightly, and requires customers to board the cab at numbered stalls in terminal parking areas near valet parking.
At Terminal 1, the pickup area will be on parking garage level 2M, while the customers can meet near at Level V of the parking garage at Terminal 3.
As a customer puts in a request with the company through the app, the driver would be allowed to go to the pickup area, either at Terminal 1 or 3.
Image: Los Angeles International Airport aerial view. Photo: courtesy of WPPilot.
