Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Set to Add Fee for Ridesharing Trips

Drivers who work for ridesharing companies may now have to pay a $3 charge to drop off or pick up passengers anywhere at Hollywood Burbank airport after a vote by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. Pasadena is one of three cities which controls the bust local airport. .

The Authority recently voted 7-0 to approve an agreement with rideshare companies such as Lyft, Wingz and Uber that will require drivers to pay a fee of $3 whenever they’re called to pick up or drop off passengers at terminals, according to Aviation Pros.

The airport has been charging drivers $3 since November of 2015, and only allowed them to make drop-offs and pick-ups at designated areas in the parking structure while barring them from the airfield’s curbside.

However, under the new agreement which will last for three years, drivers will now be able to operate curbside, but will be charged for doing so said David Freedom, the airport’s director of business, property and administrative services to Aviation Pros.

The agreement is still temporary because airport officials are awaiting for the rideshare companies to sign off on the new deal before they can start enforcing it, said airport spokeswoman Lucy Burghdorf to Aviation Pros.

Freedman told Aviation Pros that the airport is expected to make about $775,000 a year through the new agreement with the transportation networking companies. In June, the airport saw a 74 percent increase in the $3 fees, which airport officials believe is related to ridesharing drivers pulling through the parking structure.

Transportation network companies are also required to create a “geofence,” which is a virtual barrier that can be programmed into ridesharing apps that track its users, around the airport to make sure drivers are abiding by the rules and prevent them from prowling the airport for customers, according to Aviation Pros.

“This will allow for the monitoring of transactions, verification of payment of fees and to ensure overall compliance with the agreement,” Freedman said to Aviation Pros.