Private transportation and ridesharing companies suffered a major blow in 2020 from the shortage of travel due to the pandemic. Many riders are still working to get back to where they were before the pandemic, but private traffic has quickly recovered, according to a Bloomberg Second Measure report.
The National Limousine Association (NLA) conducted a survey of its members in November and found that the number of bookings was increasing. 88.7 percent of respondents said business has grown since that time a year ago.
“People are eager to go out and do things they haven’t done in ages,” Robert Alexander, president of the NLA, told Newsweek. “We’re in demand because people like to know what they’re getting. When you are a member of the NLA you want to be a responsible driver who does safety logs one o’clock, it will be there … at 12:45 pm. “
Deadlines and cleanliness were important factors in switching to private transport, and increased ridesharing prices also played a role in the decision, Alexander explained.
Many limo and black car services follow disinfection protocols after every trip. Uber and Lyft drivers and their passengers do not need to follow the same procedures, but drivers and passengers must commit to wearing a mask while driving. Lyft asks drivers to be symptom-free.
Consumers are paying more for their Uber and Lyft trips, according to the Bloomberg report. In October 2021, the average revenue per customer at Uber was $ 80, which is a 28 percent increase from 2020 and a 6 percent increase from October 2019 month in 2020 and a 7 percent increase from two years ago.
The average hourly cost of a limo service is anywhere from $ 75 to $ 200, and typically can accommodate five to eight passengers, according to Thumbtack, a multi-service site.
Black car service, transportation in large, usually black cars and SUVs, traditionally costs less because prices are set based on the time in the vehicle and the length of the route.
According to the NLA survey, the limo industry will see an increase in bookings throughout 2021. In July, 34 percent said business was up from 2019, and in May it was 31 percent.
Although private transportation booking usually increases during the holidays, only 50 percent of respondents said business increased during the 2019 holidays.
According to Statista, Uber halved in the second quarter of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It recovered the mind considerably. Lyft suffered a similar fate.
Future bookings also look positive for private vehicle service, with nearly 50 percent of NLA members reporting that future bookings have increased. However, 82.9 percent of the companies surveyed face challenges when it comes to hiring new drivers.
Many states require special licenses for limousine operators. Black car services generally don’t require the same type of license.
According to experts, price increases for Rideshare apps are directly related to driver shortages.