The Transport Ministry has now stepped in and revealed four possible solutions to solve the issue between airport taxis and ride hailing app Grab.
This comes as the association of traditional taxis in Suvarnabhumi staged protests against Grab for allegedly “taking passengers away from Thai drivers”. According to a The Nation report, Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote said on Wednesday that the Public Taxi Drivers Association was invited for a discussion in order to create “fair conditions between taxi drivers and app-based care services at the airport.”
The Transport Ministry proposes that first, “the establishment of pick-up points for app-based vehicles at Suvarnabhumi Airport is to coexist fairly alongside public taxis”. This means that app-based ride hailing apps do not violate any legislation. The Airports of Thailand (AOT) has also devised a solution by allocating specific pick up and drop off points within the airport terminal. Only registered Grab cars can enter specific areas of the airport and will follow through a barrier system as they move inside the airport premises.
Second, the AOT is required to assign staff to the public taxi waiting areas to manage queues and provide taxi assistance, including promoting taxi pick-up points with electronic signage throughout the airport for passenger’s convenience.
Third, passengers will be better informed about public taxi services as AOT will coordinate with airline staff to communicate details of taxi services.
Lastly, AOT will also implement the “SAWASDEE by AOT” app, where public taxi services will also be offered.
The Transport Ministry emphasizes that all measures will be “undertaken fairly”, in accordance with laws and regulations, prioritising public interest.