LAX board approves fee hike for companies like Uber, Lyft and others

"In an email sent to customers Monday, Uber warned that the proposal "would more than double the fees you pay to get picked up or dropped off." But airport officials emphasized access fees are assessed to the companies, not customers or drivers, and pointed out that LAX hasn't increased its fees since Uber and Lyft began operating there in 2015."

"The access fee increase affects companies such as Uber, Lyft, as well as taxi and limousine companies that operate at the airport. The fee increase is not set to go into effect until the airport's long-awaited automated people mover, known as Skylink, opens in the summer. Airport officials said the rate increase, as well as Skylink, are part of a plan to ease congestion inside LAX."

""L.A. residents shouldn't have to pay a premium to visit their own airport," said Brandon Bailey, a resident who spoke against the rate hike at Tuesday morning's meeting. "It's a tax on workers trying to get home." But drivers and passengers said they expected to absorb the costs in the end, either through higher prices or lower pay per ride."

The Los Angeles World Airports board approved increased access fees for private transportation companies including Uber, Lyft, taxis, and limousines operating at LAX. The fee increase takes effect when the Skylink automated people mover opens in summer. Airport officials stated the increase aims to reduce congestion and encourage use of alternative transportation like Skylink. The fee hike marks the first increase since Uber and Lyft began operating at LAX in 2015. While airport officials clarified that fees are assessed to companies rather than passengers, drivers and riders expressed concern that costs would ultimately be passed to consumers through higher ride prices or reduced driver earnings.

Read at Los Angeles Times