Nashville Airport rideshare fee among the highest in the U.S., here’s why

Описание: If you’ve caught an Uber or Lyft at Nashville International Airport lately, you may have noticed the bill is bigger than expected, and not just because of the ride itself.

Passengers pay a combined $7 surcharge per trip on top of regular rideshare fares. That includes a $5 airport fee and a $2 city fee.

For some riders, that extra cost is frustrating.

“It’s $50 to get from here to about 10 minutes down the street, and I think it’s an absurd amount of money,” said Amber Porch, a recent BNA passenger.

“It’s a pretty high tourist area, and they know they’re taking advantage of the regular person,” said another traveler, Ethan Jezewski.

Why the fees exist

In an email to FOX 17 News, BNA Vice President Stacy Nickens said the charges are tied directly to infrastructure needs. She explained the money helps fund the airport’s $500 million roadway improvement project, work that’s crucial because rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are major users of airport roads.

Nickens also said federal grant rules require airports to be financially self-sustaining and treat all commercial users fairly. BNA does not receive local tax dollars, so the fees help cover the cost of infrastructure and services without relying on taxpayers.

According to the airport, there were 3.69 million Uber pick-ups and drop-offs in the current fiscal year.

The $2 city fee and convention center bonds

Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston said the $2 city fee dates back to 2009–2010, when Nashville leaders were planning to finance the city’s new convention center. At the time, tourism wasn’t as strong as it is today, so city leaders created multiple “revenue streams” to back the project’s revenue bonds — including hotel taxes and the departure tax from the airport.

“Those bonds mature in 2043, and the only way to get rid of those fees is to restructure the bonds, which means paying them off and starting over,” Johnston explained.

“There’s no question that it is a lot. If this bond agreement were being put together today, it probably wouldn’t be necessary. But it was part of what the Dean administration put together to make sure we could pay for the beautiful convention center we have today.”
The airport operates independently
Johnston also pointed out that Nashville’s airport operates largely without local taxpayer funding.

“BNA operates independently. They don’t receive revenue from Metro. They get a little from the state each year, but by and large, they operate with their own revenue and expenses,” she said. “If that’s a fee they feel is necessary to support operations and keep the airport clean, beautiful, and safe, that’s their prerogative.”
While Johnston acknowledges the fees are high, she says both the city and airport charges are tied to long-term financial agreements, making them difficult to change.

Riders remain frustrated

For many travelers, that explanation doesn’t change how they feel.

“Nashville knows it’s a tourist place, so they know they can make the money because people are flying in to party,” Porch said.

BNA leaders say they regularly compare their rates to other airports and that Nashville’s fees are not among the highest in the country, despite recent reports. They say keeping infrastructure in top condition is essential for the safety and security of all travelers.

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