New Calgary airport drop-off fee for arriving taxis starting in January 2024

Passengers using taxis operating to and from Calgary International Airport will soon be subject to a fee already being charged to customers of such ride-hailing services as Uber and Lyft.

Starting Jan. 15, 2024, the Calgary Airport Authority will add a $4 drop-off fee for taxis arriving at YYC, while the existing pick-up fee will fall to $4.50 from $5, the agency said in a statement released Wednesday.

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The new fee structure will reflect rates paid by users of ride-hailing vehicles, the authority said, creating a more level playing field among various transportation services.

“We appreciate that change in pricing impacts our guests, and these decisions are made after careful consideration and review with the customer experience top of mind,” said Rob Palmer, vice-president, commercial, strategy and chief financial officer of the Calgary Airport Authority. “Any revenue collected from current or future fees are reinvested in improvements to our facilities and operations to ensure guests have safe, efficient experiences.”

Inbound and outbound airport fees are paid for by passengers, and collected through taxi and ride-hailing operators.

The fees apply to an area known as the airport campus, bounded by Aero Drive/11th Street N.E. and neighbouring properties on the west, McKnight Boulevard N.E. to the South, Barlow Trail to the east, and the airport terminal departure, arrivals and parking garage areas to the north.

The change comes less than a year after the airport authority began allowing ride-hailing drivers to make drop-offs and pick-ups near where taxis do.