Uber is now permitted to pick up and drop off passengers at the Ottawa International Airport, following the legalization of Uber in the city on Oct. 4.
This is the first type of agreement of this nature between Uber and an airport in Canada, Uber spokesperson Susie Heath told Metro.
Krista Kealey, vice president of communications at the airport, said that Uber was previously not allowed to offer their services on airport premises due to Uber’s lack of regulation, and agreed to stop serving the airport at their request.
“[Uber was] not allowed to pick up on airport property . . . they stopped serving the airport at our request, because they were not regulated under the City of Ottawa bylaws,” Kealey said.
The airport will now designate an area for Uber and other car services.
Mark Laroche, the airport’s president, said in a release the airport does not see a reason to restrict people from using Uber any longer.
“There is no reason why we wouldn’t allow Uber to operate here if they agree to terms and conditions that are consistent with other concession operators and service providers,” Laroche said.
Madison Leveque, a fourth-year Carleton University English student who uses Uber on a weekly basis, said she usually drives to the airport, but thinks the new arrangement will give people more options.
“I feel like it’ll give people more options . . . people will still take taxis because it is right there outside, and it’s convenient,” she said “[But] I feel like other people, like our generation, will take advantage of [Uber].”
Leveque said an Uber driver once requested her to sit in the front seat during a trip to the train station to avoid confrontation with taxi drivers due to Uber’s lack of regulation in Ottawa.
Levesque said Uber has a technological advantage over traditional cab companies, which could be a benefit of the service operating at the airport.
“If you don’t have your wallet or cash on you, you can still pay for an Uber with your cell phone,” Leveque said.
Ottawa’s Coventry Connections, which operates Blueline and Capital Taxi, partnered with the “eCab” app earlier this year to allow passengers to order taxis through their phones, similar to Uber. The app relies on existing cab rates and does not feature surge pricing.
Kealey said the airport, along with proper regulation, welcomes Uber’s services because it provides another option to their customers.
“From our perspective it is about choice of regulated safe transportation services and making sure our customers have access to the method of transportation that they wish,” Kealey said.
