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.
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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.
