How the airport transfer market works

Every flight ends on the ground. Once a traveller leaves the terminal, they choose between public transport, a rental car, a taxi from the rank, a ride-hailing app or a transfer booked in advance. The pre-booked transfer is the only one of these where the vehicle, the driver and the price are fixed before the plane lands.

Three layers: operators, platforms and travellers

The journey itself is carried out by licensed local operators: small taxi and chauffeur companies, independent drivers with a professional licence, and larger fleets around big hubs. Platforms such as Transfer-Performance sit between these operators and travellers. We price the route, take the booking and payment, pass the job to a vetted driver and stay responsible for the service until the passenger is dropped off.

How prices are built

A fair transfer price reflects distance and time, the size of the vehicle, local labour and fuel costs, tolls and airport parking, and demand at that hour and season. Rank taxis follow a meter or a regulated tariff; ride-hailing uses dynamic pricing that can rise sharply when many flights land at once. A pre-booked transfer sets one fixed price for the whole vehicle.

• Distance and expected driving time
• Vehicle class and capacity
• Tolls, parking and waiting time included
• Season, time of day and how early you book

Why the market keeps growing

Air traffic has recovered beyond its 2019 level at most large hubs, and more travellers book their ground transport at the same time as their flight. Families, business travellers and groups in particular value knowing exactly who will meet them and what it will cost.