SYDNEY AIRPORT: Uber rank made permanent after trial, Taxi’s suffer

Well, it’s official: Uber’s controversial kerbside rank at Sydney Airport’s international terminal isn’t going anywhere. After a 12-month trial and a six-month extension, the rideshare juggernaut has locked in its place on the Sydney T1 concourse. The New South Wales government is expected to make it all permanent come March 2026.

It’s a win for travellers looking for convenience, and a significant blow for Sydney’s taxi drivers.

Uber is the winner

The numbers tell the story: during the trial, more than 300,000 of roughly 430,000 airport pickups went to Uber. That’s a staggering shift from the days when taxis ruled the forecourt, capturing around 70 per cent of airport fares. Now, it’s more like 30. No wonder the cabbies are furious. It’s no surprise that cabbies walked off the job when it was announced.

Unsurprisingly, Uber is chuffed. But, a note of warning from me. Over at T3, the Qantas domestic terminal, where an Uber rank is located adjacent to the Taxi Rank, Uber is also getting the greater share of customers. On a recent Sunday evening, there were half a dozen cabs at the rank. Meanwhile, all the people were at the Uber pickup point.

Uber are not always the cheapest

Now it’s hard to generalise from personal experience, but when we checked the pricing on a trip from the Sydney Domestic Airport T3 to home with Uber, it was estimated at AU$60. From experience, we know that on a Sunday evening it should be closer to AU$30-40. So we opted for a Taxi. The cost was eventually around AU$45, including tolls and airport charges, but that still beats AU$60, even with the tolls and charges included.

I think that Uber was on surge pricing because it was a holiday weekend. Lesson learnt. It pays to check pricing, based on what such a trip usually costs you.

Western Sydney Airport and flat fees

But not everyone’s rushing to adopt the same plan. The upcoming Western Sydney Airport, due to open in 2026, won’t have a similar setup. Well, that’s what they say now. Time will tell.

This competition between taxis and Uber/rideshare services could become somewhat moot in the near future. That is if NSW adopts a flat fee for rides between the Airport and the Sydney CBD, which is being proposed.

2PAXfly Takeout

On a nostalgic note: do you remember when taxis had experienced drivers who would ask you which route you wanted to take and offer you a range of alternatives? Yep, those days are gone, along with clean and tidy cab interiors.

I still remember when Uber first started. Its fleet of clean, sleek new black Tesla sedans looked sharp. They were staffed with respectful young drivers, who offered assistance with your bags as mandatory. These drivers requested your preference for air conditioning. They offered water and a mint as standard. Those were the days!