Relax - Thai airport taxis up in arms over surcharge

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Some 900 legal airport taxis at Suvarnabhumi International Airport were refusing to pick up passengers yesterday, protesting a reported plan by Airports of Thailand (AOT) to change the Bt50 surcharge on taxi fares of arriving travellers.
Earlier, the Consumer Protection Board had asked the Parliament's Standing Committee for Commerce and Intellectual Property for the surcharge to be cancelled on the grounds it was unfair to passengers.

Wachairaphong Keawduang, an investigative police officer of Rachatheva Police Station, said the protesting taxi drivers claimed they had not been receiving the surcharge because it was split between AOT and the airport taxi management team.

The cabbies said the rumoured change would require them to pay the surcharge directly to AOT on behalf of their passengers, which was an unfair responsibility. If they were to lose the airport surcharge, they would not be able to cover their expenses.

The cabbies claimed some 5,000 taxis were on standby for passengers at the airport each day and each had to wait two hours on average for a fare.

They also called for AOT to move the departure taxi stand from the terminal's first floor to the second, because illegal taxis were snatching their passengers.

The AOT management and taxi driver representatives were, at time of press, still negotiating the issue. To alleviate inconvenience, AOT had contacted 12 taxi communication radio centres to arrange transport for airport users.

AOT deputy director Narongchai Thanantchangsaeng said the AOT would not implement the surcharge change for now, but admitted it was being discussed. Relocation of the taxi stand at the airport would also be reconsidered.

Land Transport Department chief Chairat Sanguansue said the cabbies misunderstood plans to change the surcharge. He said the department could not freeze the surcharge as it is an airport regulation, aimed at compensating them for their long wait for passengers. However, he said the department had also received complaints from a human rights committee, asking the agency to withdraw the surcharge in fairness to passengers.

According to Transport Ministry's rules, the surcharge has a ceiling of Bt100, but currently stands at Bt50, the same rate as Don Mueang Airport. Earlier, taxis had proposed increasing it from Bt50 to Bt70 when Suvarnabhumi Airport was opened, but without success .

Surapol Sritrakul, president of Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) called on both sides to end the dispute as soon as possible. "We are in high season. Many foreigners will be coming into the country during the New Year season and they should experience good service," said Surapol.

AOT's president Serirat Prasutanond, said the company would try to solve this problem and also the question of illegal taxis at the airport.

Thai airport taxis up in arms over surcharge

The Nation, ANN | Fri, Dec 25 2009

Drivers protesting against change refuse to pick up travellers as talks with officials continue.

Thai airport taxis up in arms over surcharge

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The cabbies claimed some 5,000 taxis were on standby for passengers at the airport each day and each had to wait two hours on average for a fare.

They also called for AOT to move the departure taxi stand from the terminal's first floor to the second, because illegal taxis were snatching their passengers.

AOT's president Serirat Prasutanond, said the company would try to solve this problem and also the question of illegal taxis at the airport.