Uber, Wingz permitted to service John Wayne Airport in Orange County

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Travelers at John Wayne Airport will now be able to get picked up curbside by rideshare companies Uber and Wingz.

Ridesharing companies have always been permitted to drop passengers off at airports - but were not permitted to pick travelers up. Only premium services like Uber Black and Uber SUV were allowed to do so.

The Orange County airport issued permits for Uber and Wingz on Monday. Wingz began serving passengers the same day, while Uber began service Tuesday. The move makes John Wayne Airport the first of the major airports in the area to allow ridesharing pickups.

In the past, passengers using ridesharing apps at John Wayne Airport had to walk off the airport's property to MacArthur Boulevard to get ridesharing lifts home.

Officials said they've worked for several months to offer a permit that complies with state and local requirements. Earlier this month, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the ground transportation permit for ridesharing companies.

Uber and Wingz were the first two companies to apply.

"Well I was happy. I got the news at 8 o'clock last night in an email. So Facebooked it and everything," said Lewis Vanderwyk, an Uber driver.

Many passengers say they are also happy with the option, but shuttle and taxi drivers did not share the same excitement.

"What I can offer is the best service possible, and I'm not sure Uber can provide this kind of service," said Guillermo Vaswquez, a taxi driver.

Fellow taxi driver Zack Zakari said this might deter business, but he feels it will only have a temporary effect.

"I think it's going to hurt us for a while, you know, it's going to hurt us for like maybe about a month or two months, probably until the people find out what Uber really is," Zakari said.

John Wayne Airport officials have reached out to eight ridesharing companies, including Lyft and Sidecar, to notify them of the new available permit.

Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport and Bob Hope Airport in Burbank still do not allow rideshare pickups, aside from Uber Black and Uber SUV. People caught breaking the rule will be cited.

Wingz and Uber will be required to pay John Wayne Airport a $2.25 pickup fee for each ride.

Officials hope to use a special mapping technology that would create a virtual fence around the airport to track all the comings and goings. Until that technology is completed, drivers will be using the honor system.