BANGKOK, 9 June 2015 – The proposed surcharge adjustment for airport taxis in Bangkok is now being considered in a manner that will minimize effects to the public, says the Minister of Transport.
The Minister of Transport ACM Prajin Juntong addressed the surcharge hike for taxis in service at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport, saying that committee responsible has come to a conclusion on the matter of feasibility.
There will be three options, namely for the ministry to approve the surcharge hike, or to disapprove the hike but adjust the kinds of taxis serving the airport to be registered, or to allow the surcharge to be increased while the Airport Authority of Thailand will take full responsibility in subsidizing the increased surcharge during the early period, with the latter option being the most possible solution.
The proposed surcharge will increase the surcharges for big taxis or vans service rate to 95 baht from 50 baht, and the sedan taxi service surcharges to 75 baht from 50 baht.
The Transport Minister has stressed that the surcharge hike will help taxi drivers who are affected from the imbalanced income insufficient to their operating costs, with adding that authorities did not wish to burden the public on the surcharge hike. This matter will need to pass consideration of the Land Transport Committee before being presented to the Deputy Prime Minister for an official announcement.
He has also mentioned that the taxi regulation system at airports needs to be revamped to increase the number of taxis in service at the airports to accommodate passengers’ demands.
