Talks see Aberdeen Airport taxis return
28.02.08
Taxis returned to Aberdeen Airport yesterday after striking drivers agreed to enter talks with airport management. Passengers faced long queues on Monday night after the drivers held a lightening strike to protest over planned new charges. They are unhappy at a planned £1 charge they were likely to face every time they entered the airport.
The action came days after Rainbow Taxis announced its fleet of 140 cabs would stop serving the terminal on March 31. The firm had only recently agreed a new contract with BAA to be managing agent for taxis at the terminal until January 2010.
Each airport taxi driver is self-employed and currently pay £116.50 a week to Rainbow Taxis - £34 for a permit to operate at the airport and £82.50 to rent the radio used by the firm to contact them.
Under the previous contract negotiated with Rainbow Taxis which would have started in April, the drivers would have had to pay the £1 barrier charge, the £34 permit, and the £82.50 radio rental fee. This, at an average of 90 customers a week, would work out at £206.50.
The drivers, airport officials, and ComCabs (who are taking over the airport contract in April) will be holding the talks tomorrow (Friday) morning. However, airport taxi drivers' representative Alan Norval said: ‘At the moment, [Aberdeen Airport] do not want to comprise on the £1 barrier issue.’
An airport spokesman said: ‘We're pleased from the passengers' point of view that there will not be any action taken by the drivers while the talks are continuing. From our point of view, we appreciate that the drivers are speaking to us. We are speaking to ComCabs as well.’
The firm's proposals, which could change, are believed to have the £1 barrier fee, keep the radio rental charge but there would be no permit payment. In addition, the £1 fee would go 20% of the way towards the cost of a new taxi rank almost at the door of the airport, part of a £1.7million redevelopment.
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