(Picture: PA Archive)
Uber is to put up its London fares for the second time in nine months with an average five per cent rise coming into force on Tuesday.
The ride hailing app said it was making the move to recruit more drivers to meet a rapid rise in demand since the end of the pandemic.
Drivers keep about 75 per cent of the fares charged.
Uber last increased driver rates last November when they went up by 10 per cent.
Off peak per mile rates will rise nine per cent from 1.06p to 1.16p, while the minimum fare rises four per cent from £4.13 to £4.30.
The average off peak fare will rise by 5.9 per cent.
During the peak the per mile rate goes up eight per cent from £2.48 to £2.60 and the minimum fare by one per cent from £4.95 to £5. The average peak fare will go up 3.8 per cent.
Uber says it needs to increase the rewards to drivers to attract a further 8,000 by the end of the year.
Andrew Brem, General Manager for the UK and Ireland, Uber, said: “London has come back to life with a bang following the pandemic and in order to meet the growing demand for Uber rides, we are looking to sign up 8,000 new drivers in the capital.
“Minimum base rates will increase across the UK in order to attract these new drivers, which will be in addition to the 10,000 that have joined Uber across the UK following the move to provide holiday pay and a pension. This is aimed at helping to boost driver earnings and help to keep London moving with a reliable Uber service.”
