Popular ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft have reached a temporary agreement to pick up passengers at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee.
The 90-day pilot program, beginning today, will give passengers additional options for ground transportation upon arrival at Mitchell. The Uber and Lyft pick-up area is between baggage claim carousels 1 and 2, through the doors marked “Exit to Ticketing.”
Previously, all vehicles operating the ride-sharing services could drop off passengers at the airport. But only Uber Black and Uber SUV were permitted to pick up passengers.
Uber said it is still only offering those specific vehicles, but hopes all its vehicles can be included in the future.
“While travelers can choose to request either UberBLACK or UberSUV, uberX is not currently an available option for pick-up at Mitchell International Airport,” an Uber spokesperson said. “We are in ongoing conversations with airport officials and hope to reach a mutual agreement regarding ridesharing operations soon.”
Lyft championed the agreement with airport officials.
“People have welcomed Lyft since we launched in Milwaukee nearly two years ago, and we’re excited that MKE travelers can now rely on Lyft to get to and from the airport safely,” said Kirk Safford, Lyft’s manager of airports and venues. “We thank the MKE airport and staff for their collaborative work to bring Lyft to the airport.”
Uber and Lyft both entered the Milwaukee market in 2014. As in many communities where the companies operate, they have faced opposition from traditional taxicab companies.
“Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are becoming an important part of the travel and transportation infrastructure, and we are pleased to offer this pilot program to passengers at Mitchell Airport,” said County Executive Chris Abele. “We are optimistic that this pilot program will set the stage for the airport to offer convenient Uber and Lyft pickups permanently.”
