TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A popular ridesharing app claims the Tucson Airport Authority is increasing airport pickup and drop-off fees.

Uber will have to agree to raise fares by Friday or face losing Tucson International as a destination.

Uber passengers, as well as users of other rideshares like Lyft, pay a fee each time they are dropped off and picked up at the airport.

The Tucson Airport Authority said a fare increase was expected, but Uber said things had gotten too high.

“This is a must for me,” James Singleton said just before taking an Uber ride Tuesday afternoon.

Singleton is confident in Uber and said the increase in pick-up and drop-off fees at TUS (from $3 to $3.50) won’t alienate him.

“Obviously, you know I prefer the cost to be lower. I know it’s a lot more expensive for me to get from the airport than other parts of Tucson,” Singleton said.

“We want a reasonable fee structure that doesn’t target our customers,” said Uber PR Director Javi Correoso.

Correoso said that Uber, also known as the transportation network company, agreed on a $2 fee in 2022, and this increase will reach $4 by November 2025. Uber wants TAA to agree not to raise fares for another two years after this round.

“LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) has a $4 fee, and it’s one of the largest airports in the world, right, so it’s a bit of an outlier where a small, regional airport is trying to impose such a large fee. to some of the largest airports in the world,” Correoso said.

“I would like to point out that, for example, Lyft, another TNC that does business here at the airport, signed the agreement without any problems. This is absolutely fair to all institutions,” said Austin Wright, TAA’s chief communications officer.

Wright said TAA bases its fees on what is affordable compared to similar airports, and other transportation services such as taxis also pay because the fees ultimately cover TUS’s infrastructure needs.

“We are investing in the airport in a way that will impact businesses like Uber. For example, we are about to repave the roads leading to the airport, we have new parking canopies. So they can stay in the shadows,” Wright said.

“Drivers need waiting areas to be able to wait for passengers, etc., so we are aware of the fact that there are operations,” Correoso said.

Both sides want Uber to continue serving TUS riders in need like Singleton.

“You know, it hurts a little bit for the average person, but I hope you know the money is going to something good,” Singleton said.

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