Taxi Driver Online

Airport at centre of taxi row


PASSENGERS will have to wait longer for airport taxis if proposed changes get the go-ahead, it was claimed today.

Airport operator BAA said it had “serious concerns” over how new city council taxi plans could affect its customers.

Currently only Comcabs taxi drivers can pick up at the airport.

But the local authority wants to remove the current taxi zoning and allow any Aberdeen driver to operate from the airport.

Licensing committee convener Callum McCaig ordered a report from council officers after problems with taxis last year.

He said although city taxis are not allowed into the airport, some have picked up fares there.

Mr McCaig said: “At the moment we have a situation where airport taxis are not licensed to pick up in the city, and city cabs are not licensed to pick up at the airport.

“No other Scottish airports have this set up.”

A spokesman for BAA said: “We have serious concerns that arriving passengers will have to wait much longer for taxis.”

And Aberdeen spokesman Taxi Group Brian Sinclair agreed the move could create problems.

He said: “It will affect customers because they could wait longer. If there is a holiday flight coming in at 2am on a Sunday morning, there will be no cars because the town is so busy.”

Comcabs claim it is already difficult to find drivers to work to the airport during unsociable hours – because most drivers prefer to work the more lucrative city centre routes.

Comcabs airport manager KK Lam said: “We feel the current system is working.

“If we don’t have a designated fleet we think it would be difficult to find drivers.”

The proposals will be discussed at a meeting of the city council’s licensing committee on February 3.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Are there many holiday flights to Aberdeen at 2.00 am on a Sunday?

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Grandad,

Welcome to the world of the hackney carriage.

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IDFIMH

Yes.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

BAA didn't have this concern for their customers when they attempted to install a barrier system last year. They dropped the plans after a series of strikes and instead hiked the cost of a permit. No one around here is in any doubt that the barrier plan will return soon.
BAA's only concern is for the money they can fleece from the local trade.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

BAA are certainly not unique with this regard most people are only concerned with what they can fleece from the trade and dress it up as a concern for customer safety etc.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!