Melbourne Airport is making it easier for arriving passengers to find a taxi or Uber, with a reconfiguration of kerbside arrivals to put more transport options closer to where they’re wanted. The changes have been driven by feedback from passengers, drivers and staff, and are designed to improve accessibility to the airport’s ground transport offering.
From Tuesday 13 May, the T1 taxi rank will shift to a new location adjacent to T1 Qantas domestic arrivals, in the space previously occupied by Qantas Valet. From late May, the new T1 taxi rank will be complemented by a new Uber pick-up zone, while a new taxi rank will open outside T2 international arrivals to complement the existing Uber zone.
The new split ranks will mirror the taxi and Uber zones in the T4 ground transport hub, which provide Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Rex and Link Airways passengers with efficient pick-ups from their choice of ride. Skybus will continue to operate stops outside Terminals 1, 3 and 4.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Ground Transport Jai McDermott said the changes were designed to improve accessibility by reducing the walks required for passengers to access their preferred transport mode. “We want to make the arrivals experience as smooth as possible and we’ve listened to the feedback from our passengers, staff and drivers,” he said. “Having both taxis and Uber available directly outside Terminals 1, 2 and 4 will make it easier for more of our passengers to access their preferred mode of transport with just a short walk from baggage claim. Improving accessibility has been a key focus for us, and we think these changes will be welcomed by travellers.
“We’re also hopeful that these changes will help reduce traffic congestion in the busy arrivals forecourt,” McDermott said. “At the same time we’re working with the Australian Federal Police and Transport Safety Victoria to address the small number of dishonest drivers who continue to tout for business in the terminals. Passengers should ensure they only ever take a taxi or Uber from one of the designated pick-up zones. Melbourne Airport is currently rebuilding our front door to pave the way for expansion of our international terminal, and next year we’ll be opening a new, much larger pick-up area for private vehicles.”
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