Meet the CEO Driving Airport Shuttle of Phoenix to New Heights
Behind every reliable airport ride is a vision, a team, and a leader with a mission. At Airport Shuttle of Phoenix, that leader is CEO and founder Michael Reyes. His rare blend of hands-on experience, deep-rooted customer commitment, and innovative thinking has taken the company from a single-van operation to Arizona’s most trusted airport transportation network. In this exclusive profile, we take you inside the career and philosophy of the man behind Airport Shuttle of Phoenix—his challenges, strategies, and the passion that drives him to redefine regional travel.
### The Beginning: From Frustrated Traveler to Entrepreneur
Long before he was steering Arizona’s leading shuttle service, Michael Reyes was just another frequent flyer. On one frustrating evening in 2012, his ride from Phoenix Sky Harbor fell through. Surging rideshare costs, unavailable cabs, and unreliable public transit options left him stranded outside Terminal 4 wondering: “Why is getting home from the airport so hard?”
That question eventually turned into action.
Realizing a gap in door-to-door transit for both urban and remote communities in Arizona, Reyes set out to build something better: a completely private, fully transparent, customer-first shuttle experience, starting with his savings, a leased van, and a website coded by a friend.
> “I wanted people to feel treated, not just transported.”
### Philosophy of Service: Every Mile Matters
At the heart of Reyes’ leadership style is obsession—with the details that affect riders: punctuality, cleanliness, route efficiency, and service interaction.
His first rule for growth? Consistency.
From day one, all drivers have been held to a higher standard than typical gig economy norms. He established a uniform code, enforced background checks before it was industry-commonplace, and pursued recurring training.
He also insisted the company avoid shared-ride models.
> “We don’t do ridesharing. Our customers get an individual experience—from their home or hotel to Sky Harbor or any destination they choose.”
That choice immediately set Airport Shuttle of Phoenix apart from local and national competitors alike.
### Hands-On Leadership: No Desk, All Action
Many CEOs manage from behind spreadsheets—Reyes does the opposite.
Even as the company grew to serve over 40 cities outside of Phoenix Metro—including Sedona, Prescott, and even Tucson—Reyes stayed directly involved.
Each week, he reviews driver reports, scans feedback from clients, and occasionally hops in the passenger seat to audit the customer experience firsthand.
> “Leaders can't be strangers to their service.”
His devotion to excellence has led the company to earn some of its best endorsements—word of mouth. About 40% of new customers today are referrals, many from travelers who hadn’t even heard of the service until a friend recommended it.
### Growth Strategy: Service First, Scale Second
Where many transportation startups scale through rapid app deployment and wide-open driver onboarding, Reyes chose an intentional, human-centered path:
1. Master one service area before expanding
2. Prioritize service quality over number of daily rides
3. Implement customer-centric tech (like flight tracking and SMS updates), but never replace humans with automation
While others in the market scrambled to automate, Reyes doubled down on live phone support. Real people answering real questions in real time.
🤳 “When someone calls us, they don’t get a robot. That matters to our clients.”
### Community Connection: Serving the Underserved
One of Reyes’ proudest moments came during expansion to communities often overlooked due to distance or low population density—places like Casa Grande, Payson, Eloy, Florence, and Camp Verde.
> “If there’s an airport nearby, people deserve access to it—no matter how far outside the city grid they are.”
Airport Shuttle of Phoenix remains one of the few services consistently offering reliable options from these areas, empowering residents, tourists, and businesspeople alike to travel without stress.
### Challenges: Keeping Up with Demand
The success has not come without challenges.
Surging growth led to a vehicle shortage in 2019, just before COVID-19. Drivers were working double shifts, schedules filled up days in advance, and services had to be temporarily paused in certain zones to protect quality.
During the pandemic, Michael Reyes pivoted hard—sanitization protocols, contactless rides, and complete refunds for canceled flights were introduced swiftly.
> “COVID tested every transportation company. We didn’t fold. We transformed.”
### Innovations Underway
Today, under Reyes’ continuous leadership, Airport Shuttle of Phoenix is expanding its capacity and offerings once again. Some highlights:
- **New Booking App (2024 Beta Launch)**
A sleek, mobile-first experience for faster payments, ride tracking, and repeat bookings in under 15 seconds
- **Corporate Partner Dashboard**
Custom accounts for businesses, convention centers, and real estate agents booking for guests
- **Electric Vehicle Fleet Expansion**
Targeting local and short-haul airport rides with eco-friendly SUVs and vans
- **Wider Southern AZ Coverage**
Tuscon Airport service with Phoenix connection options
🛫 “We’re not just building a fleet—we’re building trust.”
### A Message to Customers, From the CEO
To wrap up this behind-the-scenes look, Michael Reyes had a message for both first-time and longtime riders:
> “Every journey we’re trusted with is personal. Whether it’s a flight home for the holidays or a business trip that can’t be missed, we treat your timing, safety, and comfort like it’s our own. I built this company for travelers like myself. I lead it every day with that same mindset.”
Looking for a ride you can rely on—every time? Join the thousands of travelers who trust Airport Shuttle of Phoenix to get them to and from Sky Harbor with ease.
🚐 Book now on our website or call (480) 710-3441. Mention this article and save $10 on your first ride.
Experience why our CEO’s vision is miles ahead of the rest.
From humble beginnings to statewide recognition, Airport Shuttle of Phoenix continues to reimagine airport transportation under the steady hand of its founder and CEO. With commitment embedded in every ride and innovation on the horizon, it’s more than a shuttle—it’s a movement toward better travel for all of Arizona.
→ Want to know what cities we service? [Check our coverage](https://airportshuttleofphoenix.com/arizona-shuttle-service-areas)
→ Curious about our flat rates? [Learn how pricing works](https://airportshuttleofphoenix.com/phoenix-airport-shuttle-pricing)
→ Ready to book your private ride? [Schedule now](https://airportshuttleofphoenix.com/#book)
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