SuperShuttle, a popular airport transportation service operating in 26 cities, will make its Pittsburgh debut May 1.

Travelers can book seats on the service's nine- and 10-seat blue vans from their homes, offices or hotels, 24 hours a day.

By sharing the ride with others in their area, passengers can save over the cost of cab fare, said James D. Campolongo, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Transportation Group, which will operate the service. A ride to the airport from Downtown Pittsburgh that costs $39 by taxi will cost $19 on SuperShuttle, he said.

Elsewhere, fares will be based on the ZIP code where the trip originates or ends, with the cost about 50 to 60 percent of cab fare, he said. The fare for a traveler's companion will be $7 to $10.

"I'm all for anything that improves the transportation infrastructure at the airport and in the city. I think it's going to be a great addition," said Mr. Campolongo, whose company also operates Yellow Cab.

The service will focus at first on hotels in the Pittsburgh International Airport corridor, but will serve all of Allegheny County. Plans are to eventually expand the service area to as many as eight surrounding counties, he said.

The Express Shuttle that currently runs scheduled van trips between the airport and hotels Downtown and in Oakland, Shadyside, the South Side, the North Side and Green Tree, will cease operations on May 1.

SuperShuttle, owned by Veolia Transport, which acquired Pittsburgh Transportation Group in December, serves 33 airports in 26 cities and last month launched service in Raleigh-Durham, N.C. Across the country, it carries more than 8 million passengers per year.

The company said it has a "state-of-the-art dispatch system" that groups passengers by geographic area "so trips are as efficient as possible."

Riders call 1-800-BLUEVAN or use the service's Web site to book reservations. Rides also can be booked at several partner Web sites like Expedia and Orbitz.

The service recommends a pickup time based on the scheduled flight departure and promises to arrive within 15 minutes of the prearranged pickup time, with other stops possible on the way to the airport.

"Travelers give up a little of their time to share the ride with others going their direction. In exchange, they get a solution that is more convenient than driving and parking at the airport, and more economical than a taxi or limo," the company said.