The holiday season is a busy time for New York City’s airports, and travelers can expect to pay even more for rides to and from their destinations. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark airports, plans to increase fees for taxis, Ubers, Lyfts, and other ride-sharing services in March. The purpose of this increase is to provide better amenities and conditions for drivers, who play a crucial role in the region’s air travel network.

Currently, the Port Authority charges taxis $1. 75 for each pickup at any of the three airports. For Ubers, Lyfts, black cars, and limousines, the fee is $2. 50 for pickups and drop-offs. Under the new plan, these fees will be raised in three annual increments, with yellow cab pickups increasing to $2. 50 and pickups and drop-offs by the others increasing to $5.

While these fees may seem high, they are in line with those charged by other airports in the US. For example, Orlando International Airport plans to raise its pickup fee for ride-sharing services to $7 in 2023, and Boston Logan International Airport considered raising the fee to $7. 50 before settling on $5. 50. Uber has protested these increases, arguing that it is unfair to charge four times the fee for a yellow cab for a round-trip ride.

Unfortunately, these fees will likely be passed on to travelers, who already pay high fares for rides to and from the airports. The cost of a taxi ride from Manhattan to JFK, for example, can reach $70, not including tips, tolls, and surcharges. Ride-sharing options like Uber and Lyft are typically even more expensive, with prices reaching upwards of $100 for trips to JFK and LaGuardia.

This increase in fees comes at a time when the airports are experiencing record numbers of travelers. The Port Authority expects 5. 7 million travelers to pass through the airports between December 22 and January 4, with the busiest days being December 22 and December 28. To accommodate the high volume of hired drivers, the Port Authority has invested in taxi holding lots with amenities such as restrooms, places to wash up, and food trucks.

In addition to providing better conditions for drivers, the Port Authority is also cracking down on illegal ride-sharing services. They have allocated $100 million over 10 years for “Operation Legal Ride,” which aims to root out unsanctioned drivers who try to pick up passengers at the airports. This effort includes the use of license-plate readers and closed-circuit cameras to identify and remove unauthorized drivers.

Overall, the Port Authority’s goal is to ensure a safe and regulated experience for travelers, especially foreign visitors who may be more vulnerable to hustlers. While the increase in fees may be a burden for travelers, it is necessary to improve conditions for drivers and maintain order at the airports.