Airport Pickup Fees Set to Rise, Passengers Likely to Pay More

The agency that runs New York City's major airports is moving to raise fees for taxi and ride-hail drivers. This increase will directly impact the cost of trips for passengers. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is preparing to increase the charge for drivers to pick up and drop off passengers at its airports. These include John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International. The current "access fee" is $6 for taxis and $7 for app-based services like Uber and Lyft. The new proposal would raise both to $8 immediately, with further increases planned. Industry experts state that such fees are almost always passed on to the passenger. This means the price of a cab or ride-hail trip to and from the airports will soon go up. The Port Authority says the money is needed to fund major renovation projects at the aging airports. A final vote on the proposed increase is expected next month.