Transportation network companies (TNC) such as Uber and Lyft have been approved for operation on a permanent basis at Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Once the rules come into effect on August 24, any TNC licensed by the Public Utilities Commission or a county agency will be eligible to apply for a permit from the Hawaii Department of Transportation.
The rules were approved by Governor David Ige following a series of state-wide public hearings held in Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Lihue in late June. More than 160 people provided testimony on the proposed rule changes during the hearings, and an overwhelming majority of those testifiers expressed support for the changes.
This is the first time the rules for commercial services at airports have been amended since 2002, when TNCs and the technology they use did not exist.
Since December 1, 2017, Uber and Lyft have operated at HNL in a pilot program to test the demand for and operational feasibility of these services.
There will continue to be two designated areas on airport property – located on the second level median curb – where the TNCs will be able to pick up passengers. One pick-up location is at Terminal 1 across from Lobby 2 and the other is located at Terminal 2, across from Lobby 8. Pick up locations are subject to relocation as construction at the airport proceeds.
Jade Butay, director at the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), said, “The pilot program and the public hearings found there is significant support and interest in TNC services at our airports. The rules are in place to ensure there is a level playing field for all prearranged ground transportation companies.”
TNC permitting and pick-up operations at neighbor island airports are not yet established but passenger drop-offs are already allowed.
Moving forward, HDOT will review each county’s licensing regulations pertaining to the amended administrative rules for TNCs relating to neighbor island airport pick-up operations.