Lyft begins ride service to Las Vegas' McCarran Airport
Ride-hailing services have been working to get their cars on Nevada's streets for more than a year.
Lyft has become the first ride-sharing company legally allowed to do business at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, beating rival Uber.
The San Francisco-based ride-hailing company made the announcement Monday, following a month of clearing regulatory hurdles that finally resulted in Lyft and Uber being allowed to do business in Las Vegas for the first time.
"We're proud to be the first ride-sharing partner of McCarran International Airport," Lyft said in a statement. "We want to thank the Clark County Commission and staff, LAS [airport] Executive Director Vassiliadis and airport staff for embracing the benefits Lyft brings to travelers."
Uber and Lyft, which use smartphone apps to connect riders with part-time drivers of private cars, have been working to get their cars on Nevada's streets for more than a year. Their efforts were dealt a setback in November when a judge issued a restraining order against Uber, which had already been operating for a month in the state.
In September, the Nevada Transportation Authority granted both Uber and Lyft permits to conduct operations in Las Vegas, providing an alternative to the traditional taxicab. Last week, the Clark County Commission went a step further, allowing both companies to apply for temporary airport licenses, which would allow direct-to-terminal service.
As with airport taxi stands, Lyft drivers will wait for their passengers at designated corners in the parking lots connected to Terminals 1 and 3. Passengers getting a ride to the airport with Lyft will be dropped off in front of their desired terminal as if getting a ride from a friend. An airport service fee of $2.45 will apply to both pickups and drop-offs and will be incorporated into the customer's bill.
As for Uber, the company is still working with county officials to finalize its permit. "Our priority is to reach a resolution that ensures rider and driver safety along with the best user experience, as quickly as possible," said Uber Nevada's general manager Jason Radisson.
It's not this easy at other airports, though. Currently, travelers face massive discrepancies from city to city. Travelers flying into Chicago O'Hare International Airport, for example, aren't able to use Uber or Lyft for a direct pickup as the city is embroiled in arguments over how the ride services should function at local airports, if at all.