Sydney Airport will launch a dedicated new rideshare pickup zone at T1 International Terminal using Uber’s PIN technology, enabling travellers to be matched with the next driver instead of waiting for a pre-assigned vehicle for a smoother and faster ride home.
Available from 24 September 2024, Sydney Airport will be the first in NSW to offer the Uber service from the new holding area located 20m from the T1 terminal doors.
After requesting a ride, riders will receive a six-digit PIN code to provide to the first available driver at the pickup zone before entering the vehicle to start their trip.
Designed for high-volume environments, this technology has proven to reduce wait times for travellers by up to 50 per cent at other airports where it has been introduced.
The upgrade puts SYD in line with other global airports, including Melbourne Airport, where the technology has been found to slash wait times in half, reduce crowding and enhance passenger and driver satisfaction.
SYD hopes the new arrangements will improve passenger experience, reduce wait times and congestion and increase pedestrian safety.
Rideshares now account for 50 per cent of all pickups at SYD, up from 39 per cent in 2023, and Sydney Airport Group Executive Commercial Mark Zaouk said the hub will continue to evolve with shifting traveller preferences while noting no changes to existing taxi ranks.
“We’re proud to be the first airport in the state to trial Uber’s PIN technology which will provide a better experience for passengers and deliver greater efficiency in the precinct,” Zaouk said.
“It’s also important to recognise that taxis, hire cars and shuttle buses remain a highly valued part of the transport mix here at Sydney Airport, so we are pleased that there are no changes to taxi ranks within the international precinct.”
The new pickup zone extends Sydney Airport and Uber’s partnership after the launch of Uber kerbside at SYD’s T3 Domestic in December 2023.
