Uber and Lyft now available at Pearson

Passengers can now hail ride-sharing services during 18-month pilot project

Taxi and limousine companies are criticizing plans to give ride-sharing companies a greater share of business at Pearson airport, calling the new arrangement unfair to drivers of conventional services.

As part of an 18-month pilot project announced Tuesday by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), passengers can now hop off their flights and request an UberX or a Lyft on their phone. In the past, travellers could take an Uber or Lyft to the airport, but regulations prevented ride-hailing services from picking up passengers at Pearson unless it was a premium service like UberBlack.

“Following significant demand from our passengers, we believe that a pilot of full ride-sharing options is timely at Toronto Pearson, and in line with other airports across Canada and the U.S. already offering this service,” said Scott Collier, the GTAA’s vice-president of customer and terminal services, in a statement.

In a statement posted to Twitter, Uber Canada general manager Rob Khazzam said the pilot project was “several years in the making,” and would provide “lowcost transportation to millions of travellers every year.”

But Nader Khairallah, general manager of Aeroport Taxi, said the ride-hailing trial run amounts to “unfair competition.”

Under GTAA rules, drivers of conventional limousines and taxis must get a special licence to pick up passengers from the airport queue. The agency can charge taxi and limo drivers who don’t have the licence a $15 fee for each pickup at Pearson.

According to information posted to Uber’s website, the GTAA will charge drivers using the ride-hailing service just $4.50 to pick up passengers.