Nashville International Airport (BNA) is one of the most popular airports in the United States, but what makes it unique is its hefty fees for rideshare passengers. With a total roundtrip surcharge of $12, BNA has among the highest fees of any major airport in the country.
Most major airports add mandatory passenger dropoff and pickup fees for Uber and Lyft, which are rarely disclosed to passengers. These charges can add up quickly, especially when traveling with friends or family. For instance, a roundtrip ride on Uber or Lyft from BNA can cost an extra $12, with $5 each way going towards airport improvements and a unique $2 tax on airport rideshare and taxi pickups that funds the Music City Convention Center.
The airport's surcharge fund has generated a total of $14.7 million in 2024, up from $8.8 million in 2022. The city's $2 rideshare airport tax has also contributed to a massive and growing pot of money for the convention center, with a surplus fund of $485 million as of June 30.
But what about the impact on riders? A spokesperson for Uber noted that BNA's surcharge, coupled with the $2 city fee, makes it "among the highest at any U.S. airport." The company urged the Tennessee Legislature to take a closer look at how these fees are being spent.
How Do Other Airports Compare?
BNA is not alone in charging riders for airport services. San Francisco International charges $11 roundtrip, while Los Angeles International Airport charges $8. New York's LaGuardia charges $5 roundtrip, with the city adding other surcharges. Memphis International charges $4 roundtrip, and Washington Dulles, Reagan National, and Detroit Metro charge $10.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport charges a $3.85 pickup fee, which has been rising in recent years at some airports, leading to pushback from ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft.
The Impact on Drivers
Lyft also weighed in on the issue, noting that the increased surcharges will be felt by Tennesseans needing to catch their flights or wanting to get home after a long day of travel. The company noted that less people taking rideshare will lead to less earnings potential for drivers and decreased revenue for the city in the long run.
How is BNA Spending the Surcharge Funds?
BNA is investing these funds into infrastructure and service enhancements as it continues to grow as an international hub. This includes a new rideshare holding lot, expanded sanitation services, enhanced security measures at the holding lot, and ground transportation center reconfiguration.
The airport is currently investing over $360 million in roadway improvements and over $800 million in a new Consolidated Rental Car Facility. Additional plans are underway for a new parking garage and an expanded Ground Transportation Center.
What About the Nashville Convention Center Surcharge?
The $2 convention center fee for rideshare and taxi pickups at the airport was added as a local ordinance in 2007 to be used exclusively to build and operate Music City Center. The Convention Center Authority uses these funds for capital needs and debt service tied to the $623 million center, which opened in 2013.
The surplus revenue from this fund has led to a power struggle between local and state leaders over control of how the funds are spent.