Uber now allowed at Calgary airport, formerly exclusive domain of Associated Cabs
Other, smaller ride-hailing services have been operating out of YYC for 'a while,' airport spokesman says
The Calgary Airport Authority is now allowing ride-hailing services like Uber and TappCar to pick up travellers using their mobile phone apps.
In the past, only drivers with Associated Cabs, which has an exclusive contract with the airport to supply taxi service, could pick up up fares at the terminal.
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Effective Wednesday, drivers with Uber — the world's largest ride-hailing service — will also have access to a waiting lot and be able to pick up customers from designated zones, said airport authority spokesman Henry Stevens.
Three smaller "transportation network companies" — TappCar, Cowboy Taxi and Ride Please — have been operating out of the airport "for a while now," Stevens said.
"Our focus is on making sure that we have a full range of options available for travellers," he said.
CBC News asked Uber for an interview but a spokesman replied by email to say that "might be difficult today."
Roger Richard, president of Associated Cabs, said he's not worried about losing customers to Uber.
"We have more professional drivers and I'm sure that people will recognize that the superior service will always be the winner," Richard said.
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With files from Colleen Underwood