From March 2026, Uber and Bolt drivers operating at Eindhoven Airport can access the managed pickup zone directly, after completing verification through the Qatch platform. The integration was initiated by Eindhoven Airport, which brought Qatch and both platforms together to find a solution that works for everyone.
The situation before
Passengers arriving at Eindhoven Airport and opening their Uber or Bolt app were directed to the Kiss and Ride carpark rather than the main terminal exit. It worked as a workaround, but it meant a worse experience for passengers with luggage, and a clear gap between what licensed taxi passengers experienced and what ride-hailing passengers got.
How it works
Uber and Bolt drivers who want access to the managed pickup zone register through the Qatch platform. Qatch verifies them and grants them access to the airport system. When a verified driver arrives for a pickup, the barrier lifts automatically and the pickup takes place in the managed zone alongside licensed taxis, without any interference with the existing taxi queue, which continues to operate under its own separate rules.
The licensed taxi operation continues exactly as before, Uber and Bolt drivers get access to a proper pickup zone, and passengers exit the terminal at the same point regardless of how they booked their ride.
“This is exactly the kind of problem Qatch was built to solve. Airports have been struggling with how to bring ride-hailing into a managed environment without upsetting the existing operation. The answer is to give every driver a verified route in, with the same rules applying to everyone.”
Emmal Khan, Founder, Qatch
What it means for each party
For passengers, the change is immediate: no more navigating to a carpark after a long flight. They exit the terminal, find their vehicle in the managed zone, and go. For Uber and Bolt drivers, it means access to a proper, organised pickup area and a straightforward path to getting verified. For the airport, it removes a persistent source of passenger friction without creating additional work for the ground transport team. The barrier system handles access control automatically.
A milestone for managed ride-hailing integration
Eindhoven Airport has been running on Qatch Smart Queueing since February 2022, with 130,000+ barrier transactions processed to date. Bringing Uber and Bolt into the managed zone is the next step in making the airport’s ground transport operation work for every passenger, on every platform.
Uber and Bolt drivers interested in accessing Eindhoven Airport’s managed pickup zone can register through the Qatch platform. For more information, contact the team at +31 73 777 7777.
