Category: Vehicles

This Is How Increased Rideshare Use Is Affecting Airports

by James Gill, posted in Airports, Infrastructure, Passengers, Programs, Technology, Transportation, Vehicles

Across the country, people are noticing a problem at airports that only seems to be getting worse: traffic. This traffic derives from a number of different factors, not least of which is the record number of travelers. However, another driving force is the increasing use of ridesharing apps. Most airports were designed with lines for taxis to facilitate movement in and out of the airport, but ridesharing circumvents this design, causing more congestion. Many airports are trying to address this issue by making key changes in traffic flow, such as creating separate areas for rideshare vehicles, larger off-site parking lots where drivers can wait, and express lanes for particular types of travelers.

Rideshare companies are also responding to this issue by changing the ways in which they provide service to airports. For example, there are now “rematching” options (available through both Uber and Lyft) that help to link rideshare drivers who just dropped off a rider to another potential rider, cutting down on the time spent circulating and waiting at the airport. On the more extreme end, Uber even offers non-land service to some airports.

However, these measures are not enough, and operational staff at airports in major metro areas are scrambling to keep up with changes. Part of the issue is that rideshare demand skyrocketed in a relatively short period of time, so there has not been much time to respond.

vehicle traffic

A Growing Problem in the United States Since 2014

One of the first airports to recognize the issue caused by rideshare traffic is San Francisco International Airport, which served 58 million travelers in 2018, up from 47 million in 2014. Unfortunately, the airport has a freeway on one side and a bay on the other, so there are no options for expansion.

Recently, models showed that to increase traffic flow, officials would have to set the speed limit at the airport at 15 mph, up from the current 10 mph. However, achieving that goal means they would first have to reduce rideshare traffic by 45 percent. The airport has instituted a number of measures to do so, such as incentivizing riders to get dropped off in the parking garage, but these measures have not panned out. More recently, the airport decided to force almost all rideshare traffic to the top floor of the garage in a desperate attempt to ease traffic; this appears to be working, at least temporarily.

At the same time, the “rematch” option mentioned above, which has worked well at other airports, does not work at San Francisco International. The current location of the pickup area prevents this option from being implemented.

Because of this issue, rideshare companies have become more creative with their solutions. After all, it is in their best interest to work with airports to make everything run more smoothly. Both Lyft and Uber have launched a new program in which riders get a code and then get into the vehicle of any rideshare driver. The code then directs the driver to the rider’s destination. First introduced for large events like concerts, the system has valuable applications for airports. Namely, it eliminates the need for riders to search for drivers and find the designated car, a major source of congestion.

The Value and Downside of New Construction as a Solution

In the long run, however, these solutions will likely not prove adequate. Some airports have already begun working toward more permanent solutions. For example, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has invested $30 billion in transforming its three main airports. These upgrades include infrastructure changes that will help to handle rideshares. At the same time, these construction solutions create short-term issues such as adding more vehicles to the mix and potentially shutting down some of the lanes in the airport as they work on expansion. Thus, facilities need to be strategic with the infrastructure changes that they make. These changes should also focus on more than just rideshare structures and seek to provide more lanes and overall space for cars to move.

The real question with these major projects is who will pay for them. If rideshare apps are necessitating the construction, it is not out of the question to hold these companies somewhat responsible. Airports already do this by charging facility fees to drivers, which are typically passed on to passengers. But this has already resulted in some tension as airports continue to raise the cost of these fees. According to a recent report out of Canada, Uber has pulled out of service at Ontario Airport due to a hike in the fees instituted at the facility. Moving forward, figuring the payment issue out may prove the biggest hurdle to reducing the traffic burden.

helicopter

This Is What You Need to Know about Airports and Rideshare Helicopter Services

by James Gill, posted in Airports, Amenities, Infrastructure, Regulation, Technology, Transportation, Vehicles

Around the country, airports are quickly adapting their policies and traffic flows to accommodate the growing popularity of rideshare apps. However, airports may soon need to rethink once again how the services of these companies will integrate into the flow of the airport.

Uber logo

Recently, Uber announced its newest product, Uber Copter, which will launch by offering helicopter rides between lower Manhattan and John F. Kennedy Airport. The flight last about eight minutes and will cost between $200 and $225 per person each way. This price includes private ground transportation on both ends of the trip to make for a door-to-door experience.

While we are probably far from seeing such services available standard at every airport, Uber Copter could quickly expand to other major cities. This is what you need to know about how airports may need to change to accommodate rideshare helicopter services:

Uber Expands Offerings with Aerial Airport Transportation

Uber first started promoting aerial services a few years ago with Uber Elevate, which made the service sound more like flying cars than helicopters. Indeed, the company is still working on flying-car technology and hoping that customers will settle for Uber Copter in the meantime.

Individuals can book the new service directly on the app, just as with any other ride, to save time and frustration when it comes to getting to JFK. The airport is not directly linked to Manhattan by public transit and may people rely on taxis and rideshare apps to get them to their flights.

However, when traffic gets heavy, such a ride can take two hours or more. A helicopter flight is a much more time-efficient option that may actually grow in popularity quite quickly despite its large price tag. With ground transport, the total travel time should average out to about 30 minutes.

Already, Uber is planning to bring Uber Copter to more cities across the country, and even across the world. However, the company is not planning to do so in the immediate future. Instead, Uber will use this new product to learn more about aerial vehicle operation and how such a service can work efficiently and effectively. This information will help the company ensure feasible expansion.

In the beginning, the service will only be available to Platinum and Diamond members, the two top tiers of the Uber Rewards loyalty program. However, it could open up to more customers shortly. Customers can book Uber Copter on demand or have a flight reserved up to five days in advance.

At first, the helicopters will only run Monday through Friday during the afternoon rush hour when getting to JFK is most daunting. Each helicopter accommodates up to five people. Individuals board with a pass issued directly through Uber.

The Logistics of Uber Copter Between Manhattan and JFK

In Manhattan, helicopters use the heliport near the Staten Island Ferry to land and depart. Passengers are picked up by car to be transported to this location. At Kennedy, Uber has access to the helipad near Terminal 8. Once passengers have landed at JFK, a car picks them up at the tarmac and takes them to the correct terminal or vice versa.

The company HeliFlite, based in Newark, will operate the flights and two pilots will be present on each journey. Passengers will also need to watch a short safety video before taking off so that they know what to do in the case of emergency.

One of the foreseen problems with the service is the lack of space for large bags. Passengers will be limited to a personal bag and a carry-on bag of 40 pounds or less.

Several Competitors Are Entering the Helicopter Taxi Sector

The current quoted price is between $200 and $225. However, the final cost of the flight will largely depend on demand and the price will vary depending on how many people are requesting rides, just as with ground vehicles. While this price may sound high, individuals often pay $200 to get to JFK from Manhattan in an Uber Black car during rush hour. The service is aimed mostly at executives and wealthy travelers.

The price could also start to change as other companies launch similar services. Voom, a company owned by Airbus, has launched similar services in the San Francisco Bay Area. Flights between San Francisco, Palo Alto, Hayward, Oakland, and San Jose airports range in price from about $150 to $300 depending on the distance. Another startup called Skyryse is also aiming to enter the air-taxi business.

Another competitor is Blade, which has small plane and helicopter services in cities across the United States. This past March, the company debuted Blade Airport, which provides helicopter service from Manhattan to Kennedy, Newark Liberty, and La Guardia. At all three airports, Blade already has its own private terminals, which makes it easy for these services to expand.

The question looming over Uber Copter is what will happen to airports if this service becomes more popular. Will airports eventually need to create new areas for helicopters to land, or will space and air traffic prove a limiting factor in the number of flights that can be offered? Furthermore, what kind of charges will airports levy to use their land and airspace? This latter question will become increasingly important as airports struggle to get the income they need to modernize and expand.

architecture

This Is What You Need to Know about American Airports and Rideshare Policies

by James Gill, posted in Administration, Airports, Amenities, Infrastructure, Locations, Regulation, Technology, Transportation, Vehicles

Many airports are experimenting with their own advances in transportation technology. However, they are also experiencing significant effects from the advent of new options, including ridesharing services.

Most people probably look as ridesharing services, such as Lyft and Uber, as a good thing. Unfortunately, they may actually contribute to a variety of problems in American airports. Many people have recognized that American airports have not developed at the same rate as international ones. These individuals may not know that this problem is, at least in part, directly linked to rideshare services.

In the United States, the vast majority of people arrive at airports in cars. Historically, they would use their own vehicles and park them on the premises or take taxis. However, rideshare services are cheaper and more convenient. This makes their growing popularity understandable.

A recent study found that prior to 2012, when ridesharing became widely adopted, 80 to 90 percent of journeys to the airport were made in taxis, rentals, and personal vehicles. The remainder of this figure comes from the limited public transportation options in some areas.

rideshare

How Rideshare Services Cut into the Profits of American Airports

The situation has changed quickly. At San Francisco International, Uber and Lyft accounted for about 4 percent of drop-offs in 2014 and then 29 percent in 2017. During the same time, ridesharing-related business expenditures increased from 8 to 62 percent. Although this may not seem problematic at first, it actually contributes to the current underinvestment in infrastructure in American airports.

Historically, car parking has accounted for a significant portion of airport revenues in the United States. This revenue is now falling due to ridesharing, which ultimately means less money to reinvest in facilities. Furthermore, Uber and Lyft drivers, at least right now, pay less in access charges to pick up airport passengers. This is because they have less liberal access to the curbside than taxis. Diminishing taxi use has also cut into airport profits.

The growth of ridesharing services has certainly affected airports across the globe. However, this effect is especially strong in the United States because of the prevalence of personal vehicles. Additionally, there is resistance to transforming airports into bigger drivers of profit via better shopping and dining options.

American airports derive less than 10 percent of non-aeronautical revenue from retail and concessions. This is not the norm around the world, where major hubs like Changi in Singapore and Hamad in Doha have created luxury attractions for wealthy travelers. In other words, American airports have really relied on ground transport-based income. To maintain this source of income, a number of airports have begun changing their policies to increase income from rideshare providers.

Logan Airport in Massachusetts Begins Charging Rideshare Drivers

An airport that has made a lot of news in recent months is Logan in Boston. Very recently, the Massachusetts Port Authority Board of Directors approved a ground transportation plan that will begin charging a $3.25 drop-off fee for Uber and Lyft drivers starting in October 2019. Both of these company protested this change.

The new charge will help the airport recoup some of the losses it has experienced as a result of rideshare service adoption. The plan also creates an entirely new space at the airport for rideshare pickups at a centralized garage site, at least between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 a.m. In the early morning, pickups will be allowed curbside. In part, this policy addresses the issue of public transportation, which services the airport but with limited hours.

The new area would include dedicated ride-hailing areas, as well as space for check-in and checking baggage directly without needing to go to a separate space. According to the authority, the idea behind the new space is to reduce the number of rideshare trips without passengers, thereby reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Estimates show that about 30 percent of empty trips will be prevented.

A representative from Uber has criticized the decision, arguing it will cost the airport significant money to execute while also charging passengers more. Both Uber and Lyft ran radio ads to oppose the change and collected more than 10,000 signatures on petitions. Ultimately, the fee is slightly less than the proposed $5 charge, but passengers will begin paying it soon.

More Changes Likely in the Future for Airport Rideshare Policies

Ideally, the new plan will raise some money for the airport that will facilitate infrastructure investments beyond the new garage area. When consumers see how this extra fee can actually improve their experience significantly in the long run, they may not push back as hard, but these effects will not be seen for years to come.

In line with the airport’s statement that the decision is to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas admissions, passengers on pooled rides, such as Lyft Line and UberPool, will have a reduced fee of $1.50.

Other airports across the country are starting conversations about similar decisions to address both the congestion at the curbside and the loss of revenue due to fewer long-term parkers. In the years to come, it will not be surprising to see some radical changes to policy that are even more forward-thinking than those at Logan.

airport

These Are 5 of the Airports Implementing Autonomous Vehicles

by James Gill, posted in Airports, Amenities, Facilities, Infrastructure, Locations, Technology, Vehicles

Airports across the globe have begun paying more attention to autonomous vehicle technology, especially as organizations begin implementing pilot projects. The use of autonomous technology has the potential to reduce overall costs while also providing a variety of other benefits. In addition, autonomous vehicles could help curb emissions attributed to airports while increasing safety.

Airport professionals have just begun to scratch the surface of how this technology could improve the customer experience and drive revenues. A number of exciting projects have already begun. While these trials are all very experimental, they have largely demonstrated the impressive efficacy of autonomous technologies.

Some of the most exciting experiments with autonomous vehicle technology at airports include:

1. Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport

Recently, Heathrow Airport in England teamed with IAG Cargo and Oxbotica to launch a trial of the CargoPod, an autonomous vehicle that operated in the airside environment. The trial was meant to collect data that the CargoPod designers could use to refine the technology and potentially identify new uses for the self-driven vehicle.

The CargoPod served Heathrow for almost a month. During this time, it traveled along an established cargo route along the perimeter of the airside space. Altogether, more than 200 kilometers of data were collected that will allow IAG Cargo to refine the product further.

Engineers were pleasantly deep surprised by how well the vision-based localization system of the CargoPod operated, even in more complicated situations like the transition from indoor to outdoor spaces.

2. Rotterdam The Hague Airport

To explore the use of autonomous vehicles in baggage handling, Rotterdam The Hague Airport teamed with Vanderlande to launch FLEET. This system will streamline the baggage handling at the airport. It will concurrently improve working conditions for staff and reduce the chance of human error in getting baggage where it needs to be for flight or pickup.

With FLEET, there is no need for conveyor belts or sorting systems. Instead, each FLEET vehicle carries a bag to its destination using an algorithm to plot the most efficient route through the airport.

One of the biggest benefits of this system is resiliency. If a vehicle fails, only one bag is affected and the rest of the luggage carriers can continue around the disabled one. When a conveyor fails, the results are generally catastrophic for an airport.

3. Charles de Gaulle Airport

Charles De Gaulle Airport

At Charles de Gaulle Airport in France, Groupe ADP spearheaded a trial of two shuttles that operate using only electricity and without the need for a driver. This trial was meant to gauge how the vehicle would operate when used on high-traffic roadways, such as those surrounding a major international airport.

The two trial vehicles were also used in the real estate district Roissypôle to provide a different sort of environment for the shuttles to navigate. These shuttles use a unique road infrastructure with constant traffic signals that communicate conditions to the shuttle.

Using technology gathered from this trial, Groupe ADP hopes to bring the shuttles to other sites in the near future. Such autonomous vehicles could serve a number of different purposes, from transporting people between departure areas and car parks to taking people to their flights.

4. Gatwick Airport

Another London-based airport has become the site of experimentation with autonomous vehicles. Gatwick Airport has teamed with Oxbotica for a trial of electrically-powered autonomous vehicles designed to carry employees between different parts of the airfield.

Such technology would allow the airport to reduce the number of vehicles on the airfield considerably while simultaneously minimizing emissions and reducing costs. The technology behind these Oxbotica shuttles is quite unique and depends solely on onboard sensors without any reliance on GPS or other external tech.

Gatwick imagines that the technology will operate sort of like an autonomous Uber. Employees would have the ability to hail a shuttle whenever they need to get quickly to another part of the airfield.

Both Gatwick and Oxbotica acknowledge that much more research and development needs to be done before this technology is made commercially available. However, this trial is an important and exciting step toward the future.

5. Fagernes Airport

In Norway, Fagernes Airport became the testing ground for an autonomous snow-clearing vehicle designed by Yeti Snow Technology, Semcon, and Overaasen. During a demonstration, the autonomous vehicles were able to clear 357,000 square meters of space of snow over the course of an hour.

Yeti has actually designed a four-stage solution for moving from person-operated snow clearing devices to the autonomous devices slowly after collecting data about operations at the specific airport. The company first works with airports to optimize snow-clearing routes and then missions are tracked by GPS and logged. Next, drivers are given specific directions for clearing routes before the vehicles are transitioned to driverless ones.

Major airports often have staff on call to deal with snow. This represents a major expense during the winter months. Making this process more autonomous can eliminate much of this expense while also improving the safety profile of the operation.