Lyft and Uber to Operate at Honolulu Airport Permanently

Uber Maui. Graphics/Photos by Wendy Osher for Maui Now.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation approved new rules that will allow Lyft, Uber, and other Transportation Network Companies to operate at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport permanently.  

The rules were approved by Governor David Ige after a series of public hearings in Kahului, Honolulu, Kona, and Līhue. More than 160 people testified during these hearings and an overwhelming majority of them supported the changes.

Once the rules go into effect on Aug. 24, any TNC licensed by the Public Utilities Commission or a county agency will be eligible to apply for a permit from the HDOT.

This is the first time the rules for commercial services at airports have changed since 2002, when TNCs did not exist.

TNC permitting and operations at Kahului Airport and other neighbor island airports are not yet established. The HDOT will review each county’s licensing regulations relating to the amended rules before TNCs can operate at these airports.

Since Dec. 1, 2017, Uber and Lyft have operated at Daniel K Inouye International Airport in a pilot program to test the need for their services.

“The pilot program and the public hearings found there is significant support and interest in TNC services at our airports,” said Jade Butay, HDOT Director. “The rules are in place to ensure there is a level playing field for all prearranged ground transportation companies.”

There will continue to be two designated areas on the second level curb at HNL where TNCs can pick up passengers. One pickup location is at Terminal 1 (formerly the Inter-island Terminal) across from Lobby 2. The other is located at Terminal 2 (formerly the Overseas Terminal) across from Lobby 8. These pick up locations may change due to ongoing construction.

The revised rules can be found online.