Taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi airport have threatened to stop the service unless they are allowed to double a big-cab surcharge and get a suitcase-handling fee.
Taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi airport demand a higher surcharge for big cabs and suitcase-handling fees. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton)
Pathawee Meerat, a taxi driver at Suvarnabhumi airport who is on a tripartite committee working on taxi fares at the airport, said on Tuesday drivers wanted to double the surcharge for five-door van taxis to 100 baht, charge a 30-baht suitcase-handling fee ftom the second suitcase onwards and use fixed fares instead of meters for long-distance trips.
"Unless the Ministry of Transport approves the demands, drivers of about 1,700 big cabs will stop their service because they can't bear the loss-ridden fares any longer. Van taxis will disappear. The ministry may deploy limousine taxis instead," Mr Pathawee said.
If a meter is used, a taxi driver gets 1,132 baht per trip from Suvarnabhumi airport to Pattaya but a conventionally fixed fare gives them 1,300 baht.
Transport Minister ACM Prajin Juntong said the surcharge increase for big taxis and suitcase-handling fees sounded reasonable and that the matter would be concluded by Jan 29.