The $26 million raised by the higher fees will cover costs associated with all ground transportation companies, including roughly $6 million of that for rideshare expenses, he wrote.īennett added that the fee is not a tax at all, but a business fee assessed of any company that operates at the airport. 6.īennett wrote Lyft’s claim that the rideshare fee will be used solely to subsidize Sky Train costs to the tune of $26 million is not true. James Bennett, the city’s director of aviation services, disputed several arguments made by Brock in his own letter, sent to Lyft on Nov. “We are strongly considering all options should this fee pass on December 18.” “As we’ve stated previously, we support paying our fair share, but this fee increase is out of line,” Sedlak said in a statement. Uber spokeswoman Stephanie Sedlak said the company also considers the rideshare fee hike unfair to Uber riders and drivers, but would not commit to pulling services from the airport.

“They should not have to shoulder the burden of the city’s budget shortcomings for the Sky Train - a capital improvement project that is unrelated to their choice of transportation.” 'We have reviewed our options at Sky Harbor and believe we are obligated to prevent the unfair penalization of our drivers and riders,” Alexander said in a statement. The fee would also then be levied for dropoffs.īakari Brock, senior director of business at Lyft, threatened to pull Lyft services from the airport in January, when the higher fee is scheduled to take effect - if the council again approves it.īrock decried the fee hike as a tax increase for Lyft’s passengers and drivers, a sentiment echoed by Lyft spokeswoman Lauren Alexander. The council voted for a proposal from Sky Harbor officials to increase the fee to $4 in 2020, and gradually to $5 in 2024. Rideshare companies now pay a $2.66 fee for airport rides, but only when they pick up passengers.

Revenue from the fee increase would cover costs associated with rideshare options, like Lyft and Uber, as well as taxis, buses and the PHX Sky Train, a passenger rail system that moves riders between airport terminals and Phoenix light rail stations. The council must now take another vote on the proposal Dec. But the council’s vote occurred in violation of a state law, which requires cities to provide a written notice of fee increases at least 60 days before a vote. The Phoenix City Council initially voted 7-2 in October to raise the fee, which will help cover construction and maintenance costs for ground transportation options at the airport.

Lyft has threatened to stop serving riders at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport if the City Council votes to increase fees on rideshare companies. Rideshare companies now pay a $2.66 fee for airport rides in Phoenix, but only when they pick up passengers.

Lyft driver instructions for sky harbor