Examining the introduction of transportation network companies (TNCs) and ridesharing services for airport ground access in Australia

Ground access mode choice directly impacts an airport's commercial income generation, imposes a range of environmental externalities and requires often-considerable capital investment and infrastructure development. Historically, these revenue planning, environmental management and capital investment decisions were predicated on the knowledge that airport ground access occurred via private vehicles or by conventional public transport modes. However, the introduction of new forms of ride-hailing and ridesharing mobility services by Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) is disrupting the status quo and posing new revenue and infrastructure planning challenges for airports. Australia is one country experiencing this new business model. The aim of this paper is to examine the situation in Australia and explore the extent to which major passenger airports in the country are adapting to the advent of TNCs and ridesharing services. The situation at the 10 busiest passenger airports is examined. The findings show that while these airports still routinely plan for conventional forms of ground access, TNC's represent a trend breaker which demands new ground access management strategies. Recommendations to help airport management respond to the introduction of widespread ridesharing and the arrival of TNCs in terms of landside asset configuration and the potential for regulatory and financial strategies are proposed.