We all now know that we are in a recession.
It has been reported that City of Edinburgh Council has decided that its own bus company should divest itself of the airport taxibus service it set up in competition to the taxi service it regulates and restricts. Incidentally, a power to control competition that is granted to no other business sector other than government.
So, government plays to different rules. It plays the market, and restricts competition. Nice one Kenny Macaskill. That's what you call justice? And there's you being a justice minister too. And the system works? But for whom? Not for those who do the real work it seems.
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topst ... ength=1000
Lothian Buses, and the council, wouldn't be looking to punt their taxibus if it really was successful. If it really did make a profit. So what self respecting company would make such an investment.
I've also been told that other airport operations, experiencing the same commercial and profit difficulties as Lothian Buses airport shuttle taxi bus service, are also up for sale.
Airportcarz has been mentioned. If this company was profitable why would it want to find a new owner? That this paragon of business venture is being offered for sale, doesn't it smell of desperation?
Wouldn't you have to be a complete business failure to think of buying a business which is failing, in a time of recession, and which has no real prospect of turning its failure around?
I have no difficulty with the airport shuttle taxibus business, or the Airportcarz business struggling and failing. Because they're trying to do what should be done by real taxis.
This is not a business concept that sits well with the interests of real taxi business. Their failure is that to provide a taxi service you really need to be a real taxi.
I hope that both these businesses are bought. And that those who buy them get their fingers well and truly burned. At best they would be complete business nincompoops, at worse they would have to be working an agenda known only to themselves.
The business plans are flawed. A first year business student would realise this. Any business buying into this scenario would have to be managed by those with qualifications less than a first year business student. I would hope they get seriously hurt. It would be no less than they deserve.
The council needs to take a financial hit for their shuttle service. So do the owners of Airportcarz.
More power to real taxis.
We survive because we are real taxis.
