SAMUT PRAKAN, 26 April 2015 – Suvarnabhumi Airport authorities and drivers of taxi vans serving the airport, have reached an agreement to carry no more than four people per vehicle in order to avoid demanding an unfair flat rate fare, the deputy director of Suvarnabhumi airport Dalad Asaves has announced.
The meeting took place on Thursday between representatives of taxi drivers and officials concerned representing the airport, the Land Transport Department, the military and tourist police.
The meeting was held in order to solve the problem of excessive charges that taxi vans have often demanded for carrying luggage and other belongings. They were known to have generally taken more than four persons per trip and heavy luggage. This was used by drivers as a pretext to refuse to use the meter and to increase the cost of their taxi service. Officials reaffirmed that over-sized luggage could obstruct drivers’ vision in the rear-view mirror and so reduce the safety of passengers. Besides, taxi insurance covers only four passengers and one driver.
The meeting reached a consensus that each taxi serving the public at Suvarnabhumi, regardless of car’s size, was not permitted to take more than four passengers a trip and must always use its meter; they must also never leave passengers before arriving at an agreed destination.
At the meeting, taxi drivers agreed to cancel a planned strike that was widely posted online, but said that they are still waiting for the approval of a fare rate which better reflects the actual cost of providing a taxi van service.
Meanwhile, airport officials asked all passengers to keep taxi slips as they provide service information and might help them in case of complaints of bad service or loss of items.
Any passenger who has experienced impolite taxi drivers, refusal to use the meter or rejection of passengers, is urged to call the AOT Contact Center 1722 around the clock or simply call the phone numbers written on the slip.
