New Airport Shuttle Service Will Serve Entire County

Shuttle service to and from Lindbergh Field will double Monday, when a new transportation company begins offering van rides to all areas of San Diego County.

Shuttle Express International, a licensee of Super Shuttle, will inaugurate service with 35 vans, said company spokeswoman Roselyn Smith. The company obtained approval from the California Public Utilities Commission in August for the airport service.

“We will cover all of San Diego County, which not all of the other shuttle companies do. We will start service with 35 vans, but expect to acquire 10 more in the next six months,” Smith said.

Airport officials said 13 companies, including jitneys, operate 40 vehicles to and from Lindbergh Field. Shuttle Express’ closest competitor operates 12 vans, Smith said.

Shuttle companies provide door-to-door service for airport passengers. Fares are set according to ZIP codes. The farther a ZIP code is from the airport, the more expensive the ride. Shuttle Express’ most expensive fares will be in the 92004 ZIP code area, which includes Ocotillo Wells and Borrego Springs. Those fares will be $125 per person each way.

The company’s cheapest fares will be $5 to and from downtown San Diego.

Normally, additional passengers going to and from the same location will be required to pay a cheaper fare, which could range from $5 to $15 a rider. But for some faraway places, such as Ocotillo Wells, Fallbrook and Pauma Valley, where rates are expensive to begin with, additional passengers will ride free.

Depending on the distance traveled, shuttle service is usually cheaper for the single traveler. But, in many cases, an entire family is better off taking a cab to the airport.

“Yes, there are some cases when it’s cheaper to take a cab,” Smith said. “But, in many cases, our fares are 50% to 60% cheaper than cabs.”

Mike Spadacini, secretary director of Orange Cab, said the new shuttle service will take some riders away from the taxi companies, but he argued that the other shuttle companies will bear the brunt of the competition.

“I think it’s going to hurt us a little bit at the airport, but not that much. I think they’re going to hurt the other vans who are already at the airport. They’re already starting to complain” about Shuttle Express, Spadacini said.

Spadacini also expressed a common complaint heard from the taxi companies. He pointed out that, although shuttle vans are allowed to work the airport every day, cabs authorized to pick up passengers at Lindbergh Field can work the airport only about 10 days a month, or every third day.