Uber X, Lyft To Begin Operations At Atlanta Airport

After months of debate, the Uber X and Lyft ride-booking services will finally become legal at the world’s busiest airport in Atlanta.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport will begin allowing the rides Sunday under new regulations. Airport officials say passengers will pay a $3.85 surcharge per ride from the airport.

“What will happen is, you can have Uber or Lyft pick you up on the lower levels of the North and South domestic terminal or on the arrivals level of the International terminal,” said Reese McCranie, director of communications at Hartsfield-Jackson. “In addition to having signage that will direct passengers there, also when you open up Uber and Lyft’s apps, it will also give you the option to get picked up either at the north or south lower level or at international. So it should be fairly easy for people.”

Such services were not allowed in 2016 because drivers didn’t have permits to serve the airport, and some were cited though enforcement was spotty.

The city of Atlanta, which owns and runs Hartsfield-Jackson, began working on regulations last year. The city council approved the rules and fees in September and set a Jan. 1 start date.