Uber users face hike to get to Nelson airport

Sunday, 1 March 2020

Uber customers must walk more than half a kilometre from the Quarantine Rd-Bolt Rd intersection if they want to get a ride to or from Nelson Airport.

A long walk is not something Uber users expect but it's a reality for those heading to and from Nelson Airport.

The airport company is blaming the ride share giant for dragging the chain on an agreement to use the terminal. In the meantime Uber drivers have to drop passengers off outside airport land more than half a kilometre away.

Nelson man Sandy Mill said when he opened up the Uber app to book a ride from the regional terminal 'there was a big red area over the airport' which indicated Uber drivers were unable to enter.

This meant moving his pick up point 600 metres down the road to the intersection of Quarantine and Bolt Roads.

Mill said he was a frequent user of the ride share giant and decided to 'give them a go' to get him home after an international flight, but he wasn't expecting to walk with his luggage more than half a kilometre outside the airport.

**READ MORE:

The airport company has blamed the lack of Uber access on the ride share company dragging the chain on an agreement.

* Wellington Airport's ride share pick-up bay moved out from cover, for now

* Uber reaches access deal with Christchurch Airport

* Wellington Airport strikes deal with Uber, creating pick-up area and charging fees

* Uber talks with Christchurch airport about access

* Uber to launch in Christchurch**

Uber launched in Nelson with a number of other regions in October 2019 after arriving in some of New Zealand's main centres in May 2014.

Mill said he had experienced the same thing at Christchurch Airport but after a call to the Uber driver, 'they'd come into the airport and pick you up'.

The ride-share app began services in Nelson in October last year.

The same approach didn't work in Nelson.

The driver told Mill he had learned from a past experience to abide by the rules, Mill said.

'He had dropped someone off at the airport and within 15 minutes he had an email from the airport telling him if he did it again he'd be fined.'

Stuff understands the fine would be increased substantially if the driver ignored the first fine and drove in on another occasion.

Mill said Christchurch Airport had since allocated a ride share pick up zone.

'It does appear the airports do eventually come to some arrangement with Uber.'

Nelson Airport commercial manager Stephen Batt said Uber was dragging the chain when it came to officially getting on board with the airport.

'We reached out to Uber before they even announced they were coming to Nelson. We're just working with them and struggling to get them across the line.'

Batt said Uber needed to comply with 'minimum standards', including drivers being insured and carrying the relevant license as Nelson Airport was private land.

'Uber have engaged and encouraged us that they want to have a licence but they're testing our resolve to see if we will follow up on it.'

'It's frustrating … we want to provide the customer choice.'

An Uber spokesperson said it had partnerships with many airports across New Zealand. 'We're currently working towards a similar partnership with Nelson Airport.'