Curbside wait times for passengers utilizing Uber ExpressMatch have decreased between 40 percent and 65 percent during the first two weeks of a pilot project in partnership with Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC).
ExpressMatch, which debuted in June at Denver International Airport (DEN), reduces passenger wait times and curbside crowds at airports. It’s an intelligent matching tool that places drivers at dedicated airport curb areas to be ready for rider requests. The program anticipates rider demand and requests drivers in advance to briefly wait directly at the airport’s pickup curb or in a nearby pickup zone, then matches riders to drivers.
“Shorter ride-share wait-times mean less congestion on our terminal curbsides and better ability to practice social distancing,” says John Aitken, director of aviation at SJC. “As passenger traffic continues to recover, Uber ExpressMatch represents the type of innovation that will help us continue to meet traveler needs and keep everyone safe.”
The pilot debuted on September 1. ExpressMatch has served about half of the airport’s customers since then.
“ExpressMatch was built to reduce wait times at the curb and we’re thrilled that the pilot has been so successful,” says Niraj Patel, director of rider operations at Uber.
