[ad_1]
NEW YORK (CNN) – Uber is reducing volume – and turning to the sky – in its latest round of new services.
The company announced Tuesday expanding its no-talk car rides to more rides and launching a helicopter service to New York for a quick (and expensive) trip to the airport.
Users will need to select a Comfort Trip from its list of options, including Uber Pool, UberX, Uber Black and UberXL. The new group of Comfort vehicles includes mid-size cars, extra legroom and allows passengers to ask for the ideal temperature.
Users in the country will now be able to request car trips for which they will not have to talk to drivers, which will allow drivers to come to a standstill "if you have to answer emails or if you feel like doing a nap, "according to the company.
In May, Uber launched the "silent mode" for the first time on Uber Black and Uber SUV, its premium services.
But Uber's new helicopter service, Uber Copter, will be so fast that he will not have time to take a nap. 8-minute trips will be available from Manhattan south of Houston Street to JFK International Airport on weekdays during rush hours. Single tickets will cost about $ 200.
Uber plans to replace helicopter rides with autonomous power-driven electric cars, which should make transportation faster and safer. For the moment, Uber starts with a limited helicopter program, the number of trips being determined by the request. Nobody can book a helicopter ride. Only Uber customers with the highest status in their platinum and diamond reward program will be eligible for travel.
Uber does not perform the flights itself; They are managed by HeliFlite, a charter helicopter company based in New Jersey.
Uber users will see the helicopter's option appear in the app when they plan trips to Lower Manhattan, JFK International Airport or in some areas. areas giving access to West Side Highway. Trips must begin or end in this designated area to see the Copter option. Uber will coordinate with his car service to bring the passengers from lower Manhattan to the helipad. The trips to the airport can be booked the same day, as a typical Uber ride, or up to five days in advance.
The passengers of Uber Copter, which can accommodate five people, can bring a carry-on bag and a personal bag. It is forbidden to tip the helicopter pilots.
Uber said he was open to extending the Copter service to other regions. For now, he intends to use the flights to better know the flight and inform about its future products.
The new service sparked criticism from some New York leaders, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Chairman Corey Johnson, in June following a helicopter crash that raised questions about the safety of air traffic in cities. Uber officials said they had teamed up with HeliFlite because of its high safety record.
Uber also said Tuesday that its public transit initiative in Denver has led to the sale of 1,200 bus and train tickets via the app since its launch in May. The company wants to become the one-stop shop for transportation, whether by car, bike, scooter, bus, train or helicopter.
The-CNN-Wire ™ and © 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
[ad_2]
Source link