Sky Harbor Airport is proposing a rate hike for taxis, shuttle buses, and ride-share providers. The increase is expected to be at least 75 cents per pick-up.
Assistant Aviation Director Chad Makovsky said Sky Harbor is undercharging the service operators when compared to other major airports around the country. He said the airport is self-supporting and the fee hike is needed to help maintain infrastructure.
“We invest in the roadways; we invest in the curbs that they operate out of; We invest in the hold lots and all these different services. The lights that are on in the street. We’re not asking them to pay for all of it, but we’re asking them to pay for their proportionate share of the total,” Makovsky said.
Some operators say the rate hike will force them out of business.
Makovsky said they plan on slowly implementing the rate hike starting in 2017, to be fully implemented by 2020.