Lyft to begin picking up passengers at O'Hare, Midway airports Monday

Jessica D'Onofrio Image
Monday, November 23, 2015
Lyft picking up at Chicago airports
The ride-share company Lyft is the first to pick up passengers at O'Hare and Midway airports and McCormick Place.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Just in time for the busy holiday travel period, ride-share companies can now pick up travelers at Chicago's airports and McCormick Place.

At O'Hare and Midway international airports, signs and yellow paint mark the ride-share lanes on the upper-level roadway. Only Lyft is available now, but an Uber spokesperson said the company submitted all of its paperwork and is just waiting for the green light.

"Usually when you get in on Thursday at 6, you're waiting around 50 minutes in taxi lines. So having the option to come out of the terminal click a button to have my taxi outside waiting for me is surely a great option," Julian Nicks said.

Chicago cab drivers fought against allowing ride-sharing service to pick up at the airport. They argued licensed taxi drivers are regulated while ride-shares aren't.

The city is imposing a tax on the ride-share companies.

Ride-share companies can also pick up passengers at McCormick Place.