Airport use of ride-sharing services is rapidly accelerating

• California air travelers who utilize ride-sharing services for the trip to and from airports have increased usage exponentially within the past year to 57 percent versus 26 percent in the past one-to-three years; nationally, 42 percent of Americans have increased their use within the past year versus 14 percent in the past one-to-three years.
• Among those who travelled by air within the past year, 25 percent believe the experience has improved versus 19 percent for those who flew in the past one-to-three years.
• More than seven in 10 (72 percent) California air travelers believe airports are designed efficiently.

Whether air travel is for business or pleasure, before ever boarding an airplane, the journey begins with the trip to the airport. While multiple travel options are available in many parts of the country, almost two in three (65 percent) California air travelers still prefer to begin their trip in a personal vehicle, either their own or that of a friend or family member, for transportation to and from the airport, according to a new HNTB Corporation America THINKS public opinion survey of California air travelers.

The HNTB survey, “Airport Terminals in California-2018” found that among Californians who prefer using private vehicles, 43 percent opt for a drop-off from a friend or family member or use their own personal vehicle (22 percent). Ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft are favored by 18 percent, while taxis, limousines and shuttles are preferred by 7 percent. Seven percent of Californians choose public transportation for travel to airports, and 3 percent would make the trip with rental cars.

“Despite the continuing preference to use a personal vehicle for travel to and from airports, we’ve identified an important shift just within the past year –an emerging preference to use ride-sharing services. Airport operators in California should take note of this trend and potential impacts it may have for them, both short and long term” said Peter Aarons, HNTB’s, West Division aviation director and associate vice president.

The HNTB survey found that more than half (51 percent) Californians use ride-sharing services versus 37 percent nationally. It also found this to be a rapidly increasing trend among Californians with 57 percent who have used it within the past year, an increase of more than double versus 26 percent usage in the past one-to-three years.

“While more than half of Californians already use ride-sharing to travel to and from airports, its use is rapidly growing, which is important on many levels including the potential of increased vehicular congestion at airports as well as impacts it will have for traditional airport revenue sources,” said Aarons. “One direct revenue example could result from people who use ride-sharing instead of driving themselves and thereby possibly impacting parking on-site at airports.”

Experience counts

Nine in 10 (90 percent) survey respondents rated the quality of their travel experiences over the past three years as either the same (66 percent) or improved (24 percent). However, among those who reported improved travel experiences (25 percent) are people who traveled by air within the past year versus 19 percent among those who flew in the past one-to-three years.

More than seven in 10 (72 percent) Californians agree airports are efficiently designed in terms of parking, pick-up/drop-off curbs, passenger check-in, security checkpoints, ground transportation within the airport campus, and gate-to-gate proximity, versus 79 percent of American air travelers.

Yet, seven in 10 (70 percent) find airport terminals to be stressful environments with waiting in lines cited by 51 percent as the most frustrating aspect of the airport terminal experience, a notable increase from 34 percent reported from a national HNTB survey conducted in 2017. Additionally, the amount of time spent waiting in lines was identified by nine in 10 (90 percent) respondents as the most needed improvement for airport terminals.

“As airports in California continue to update and modernize the design of terminals and other ground-side facilities, people recognize and appreciate the improvements but also indicate an opportunity to reduce the length of lines at airports,” said Aarons. “Airport operators’ focus on safe, efficient movement of travelers must be balanced with changes in how passengers use ground transportation to and from airports as well as their expectations for a pleasant experience inside the terminal before boarding an aircraft.”

Priorities and needed improvements

More than eight in 10 (85 percent) Californians believe security is the top priority for airports. Other priorities they identified include the overall customer service experience within the terminal (81 percent), improved ground transportation to and from airports (70 percent), and improved on-site parking and access to terminals (68 percent).

Improvements air travelers want to see include less time waiting in lines (90 percent), better ground transportation to and from airports (75 percent), easier movement within and among airport terminals (74 percent), better access to terminals from on-site parking (74 percent), improved on-site parking at airports (70 percent), improved information and signage within airport terminals (66 percent), accommodations for people with disabilities (66 percent), and increased amenities available within terminals (49 percent).

About the survey

HNTB’s America THINKS survey, “Airport Terminals in California-2018” polled a random nationwide sample of 515 Californians, ages 18+, between March 9 and March 13, 2018. It was conducted by Russell Research using an email-invitation and online survey. The margin of error is +/- 4.3 percent.

About HNTB

HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure solutions firm serving public and private owners and contractors. With more than a century of service, HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients’ most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, program management and construction management. For more information, visit www.hntb.com.

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For more information, contact:

Agnes Huff, Agnes Huff Communications

ahuff@ahuffgroup.com; (310) 641-2525