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As competition heats up between rideshare and taxis, Las Vegas airport makes changes for convenience

Posted at 11:30 PM, Sep 30, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-01 07:03:23-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — McCarran International Airport continues to break travel records and now there are some changes in place to help travelers and local save time.

Whether in town for business, for pleasure or arriving home sweet home; nearly everyone who arrives at McCarran International Airport is trying to get out of the airport fast and easy.

"I don't come here very often,” said visitor Joe Diaz. “Came here a couple of times last year. It was quite the nightmare."

But the competition between the rideshare companies and the taxis is probably about to get even more intense. The Taxicab Authority has approved a pilot program that would introduce a flat rate fare schedule for trips from the airport to three zones on the Las Vegas Strip.

Ridesharing is now so commonplace that the airport had a record setting day earlier this month, with more than 15,000 people choosing Uber or Lyft over taxis. One more reason airport officials had been working toward and finally unveiled a new spot for passenger pick up in terminal one.

Christine Crews is a spokesperson for the airport.

"There was quite a bit that went into this move. All of our signage had to be changed,” Crews said. “We had to look at the path of travel for every passenger and not only communicate it to the passengers, but also the drivers. This was a change in protocol for them as well.”

Now visitors simply cross the pedestrian bridge to the parking garage on level two, make a right and then visitors are ready to meet their driver.

"There's no back up,” said Diaz. “I was off the plane and in ten minutes, got here and can get a ride here in about three minutes so. This is definitely an upgrade."

Visitor Gary Colombo said he could definitely tell the difference.

"It has probably been about a year,” Colombo said. “And I don’t think it was as fast. I think this was faster."