Taxi Driver Online

Aberdeen Evening Express

July 7, 2007 Saturday

Extra airport taxis to cope with boom in passengers

More taxis are being made available at Aberdeen Airport.

A second taxi firm is due to start operating later this summer.

But today the boss of the company that currently provides taxis warned it could leave the city centre short.

Russell McLeod, who runs Rainbow Airport Taxis, said: "These taxis need to come from somewhere, and they can only come from the city.

"Therefore those customers in the city will not have the level of service they currently have.

"If you take 50 taxis from the city and move them to the airport, you will just compound the problem in the city."

Airport owner BAA is allowing ComCabs to operate a booking office at the airport, where only Rainbow Airport taxis can sit in ranks.

Aberdeen Airport's acting customer service director, David O'Neill said: "With expansion of the airport, new routes and new destinations, we have to be able to meet the demand of our passengers by ensuring taxis are available to take them to and from Aberdeen Airport at all times.

"As a result we have agreed with Aberdeen City Council Licensing Solicitor a process which allows us to introduce a second taxi operator at the airport, providing passengers both increased availability and choice.

"ComCabs is scheduled to commence operation in the near future and we are both confident and pleased that - in conjunction with the existing and new taxi service providers - we will be able to deliver the best and most convenient service to our customers."

The airport is zoned by Aberdeen City Council to ensure a certain level of service is guaranteed.

BAA contract Rainbow to run the fleet of taxis. It also charges taxi operators a fee.

BAA refused to discuss details of its arrangement with ComCabs, claiming it would be "unfair on business partners".

But the Evening Express has learned the company will have to hand over £1.50 to airport bosses on each fare. The charge will not be passed onto passengers.

No one from the ComCabs was available for comment.
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Hmmmmm.

Methinks if there are loads of punters at the airport then drivers will make sure they don't walk, and if there are loads of punters in the city then drivers will make sure they don't walk either.

Beauty of de-limitation.

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IDFIMH

Absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the move would end his monopoly at the airport, of course.

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Having been at both ends of this dilemma, i know that there wil be no shortage at either end if the planned booking-office goes ahead. All i can guess is that Mr McLeod doesn't want his drivers jumping ship to the opposition at the airport or his drivers in his city office jumping ship so that they can work the airport without having to change their zone !

This is a win win situation for the punter and the driver. If i get a fare to the airport from town i can then wait and get a booked order back from there. The punter arriving from London/Manchester/Paris/Amsterdam etc can get a taxi almost right away instead of waiting for 30-50 minutes !!!!

It's not rocket science. If drivers are not busy they will go where the work is, If the work is in the city centre the drivers will head for Chapel St or Back Wynd if the work is at the airport the drivers will head there. By having the option the drivers will be able to get the best of both worlds while the punter will hopefully get a much better service.


Or maybe after nearly 20 years i have got it all wrong ??????????????