Uber announces rides from BIA

Uber yesterday announced the launch of a dedicated pick-up spot for riders at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo. 

Travellers arriving in Sri Lanka can now easily find their Uber ride at this designated area and make travel-related stress and guesswork a thing of the past. This is an industry-first for Sri Lanka. 

At the Uber pick-up spot located at the Arrival Terminal in BIA, travellers will now have access to kiosks for pertinent information about hailing an Uber. Drivers will also benefit from designated parking spaces and cashless transactions. With improved amenities for driver partners and clear way finding signage for travellers to the Uber pick-up spot, this airport partnership will raise the bar for airport travel and benefit riders and drivers alike. BIA will earn Rs. 700 and applicable VAT from every pick-up that Uber gets at the airport, adding to a revenue stream from app-based aggregators. 

Globally, Uber has changed the airport experience for the better by bringing convenience and affordability. The company has partnerships with over 600 international airports and has a dedicated airport team that works closely with the local airport authorities to bring best-in-class experience and safety for customers every time they choose Uber.

 The partnership with the BIA will further promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination to a wide audience of travellers and enable them to use their familiar Uber app to travel from the airport seamlessly. 

Uber India and South Asia Operations Director Shiva Shailendran said: “We are always working towards bringing the best of Uber to Sri Lanka. The addition of a dedicated pick-up spot at the Colombo airport will help provide a reliable, recognisable, and seamless mode of transportation from the airport to the city and contribute to Sri Lanka becoming a world-class tourist destination. In addition to our strong rider base in Sri Lanka, travellers from over 70 countries are familiar with Uber, and have it as their preferred choice when traveling abroad. We hope that international travellers as well as returning Sri Lankans, will benefit from the pick-up point and get a world-class experience every time they ride with us.” 

Travellers can choose from a wide range of Uber offerings at the airport and get top-rated drivers with high-quality vehicles. Depending on their need, number of people and luggage they’re carrying, they can choose between Zip, Premier, or XL from the app. They also have the option to book multi-stop, multi-hour rides with Uber Rentals. 

Now, Uber has added Uber Vans for a larger group of people from the airport. Affordable and easy to locate, this latest offering will make group travels easier. Every Uber Van can accommodate up to 10 individuals along with luggage and can be an ideal choice for long trips and groups traveling together. Available on the Uber app, riders will get vehicles such as Toyota Hiace, Caravan, among others at the tap of a button. 

In line with Uber’s commitment to transparency, travellers will continue to benefit from upfront fares at the time of booking and now receive booking assistance at the kiosks if required. The estimated fare shown upfront will have airport parking fee and toll fee included, reducing friction between riders and drivers and enabling seamless travel. Travellers will be able to see the fare-break up and benefit from Uber’s 24/7 safety support.