The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) recently amended administrative rules to allow Transportation Network Companies (TNC) to operate at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on a permanent basis.
Under the amended rules, any TNC licensed by a county agency or the Public Utilities Commission is eligible to apply for a permit from HDOT.
TNCs include companies like Lyft and Uber, both of which have operated at the airport as part of a pilot program since Dec. 1. The program was designed to determine the demand for and operational feasibility of these services.
“The pilot program and the public hearings found there is significant support and interest in TNC services at our airports,” HDOT Transportation Director Jade Butay said. “The rules are in place to ensure there is a level playing field for all prearranged ground transportation companies.”
Two designated areas at the airport will allow for the pickup of passengers.
Following a series of statewide public hearings, Gov. David Ige approved the rules, which will go into effect on Aug. 24. This marks the first time the rules for commercial services at airports have been amended since 2002.
TNC passenger drop-offs are allowed at neighbor island airports once HDOT has reviewed each county’s licensing regulations. TNC permitting and pickup operations, however, have not yet been established.