

Codi Wilson, CP24.com





Starting today, Uber and Lyft drivers will be able to pick up passengers at Pearson International Airport as part of a new pilot project.

In a news release issued Tuesday, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) said the pilot will provide a “regulated, municipally approved transportation option” for the 47 million annual airport passengers and close to 50,000 airport workers.

"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," Scott Collier, vice-president of Customer and Terminal Services for the GTAA, said in a written statement.

"We appreciate the collaboration of the ground transportation industry in sharing their feedback and welcome another opportunity to offer our passengers choice in their transportation options."

Prior to the pilot, travellers were able to take Uber and Lyft rides to Pearson but only licensed Toronto Pearson taxis or limos were permitted to pick up passengers from the Toronto area airport.

The GTAA said it consulted with transportation industry partners and examined best practices at other North American airports prior to the launch of the pilot.

The GTAA added that the airport will monitor how this move impacts existing transportation providers and will solicit feedback from these providers.

In a tweet posted Tuesday, Uber Canada General Manager Rob Khazzam said the move has been “several years in the making.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for this pilot and we are committed to invest and help build a world-class mobility experience with Toronto Pearson,” a written statement released by Uber Canada spokesperson Xavier Van Chau read.

Lyft spokesperson Aaron Zifkin said the company is “thrilled” to be operating at Pearson.

"With the addition of this pilot program for rideshare vehicles, passengers travelling in and out of YYZ can count on a convenient and affordable Lyft ride to and from the airport. We're thankful to the GTAA team for their collaboration and we look forward to providing a great rider and driver experience at Toronto Pearson."

The move isn’t sitting well with members of the taxi industry, including Beck Taxi spokesperson Kristine Hubbard, who said she only learned about the pilot this morning when the announcement was made.

“We are about to hear this week that the City of Toronto has a plan to review the new bylaw that allowed services such as Uber and Lyft to come into our city,” she told CP24 Tuesday.

“I think that the GTAA has made a big mistake to do this now just as we are a year overdue in reviewing whether these services are even safe for Torontonians.”