Legitimate drivers who spoke with The Phuket News today (September 4) said that they had received no information about new systems, policies or regulations, and that the free-for-all continued, with black taxis having unfettered access.
One driver, Theerayut Garagate, a member of the Phuket Limousine Business Service Co-operative (PLBS), said, “The only new thing I can see is that they have painted yellow lines for parking in the lane closest to the arrival terminal, but these spaces are not reserved for taxis.
“Black taxis are still operating at the airport. If AoT [Airports of Thailand, which owns and operates the airport] would like to change anything, it should take care of this matter first.
“AoT needs to build up our confidence in it. We have never trusted AoT because it never took care of this problem. We pay for the concession [to operate in the airport], but we have to struggle with all this stuff by ourselves.”
A spokesman for PLBS said that the current concession, which costs B1.6 million a month, expires in November. However, he noted that the airport had not sent PLBS a bill for August, and said he had no idea why this was.
Mr Theerayut said, “The AoT knows what is going on, who has the black, yellow, red, or white plates. The AoT has the right to check the facts. Why don’t they do it? The AoT can obviously see the problems, but never helps us with a solution. It never tries to chase away the black taxi drivers, but tries to push us away instead.
“If you don’t believe me, you can come to the airport yourself around two to three in the morning, and pretend that you are a tourist, then you will see for yourself. The black taxi drivers are still here.”
Pratueng Sornkham, the airport’s Director, seemed irritated by the taxi drivers’ complaints. “We’ve already set up six counters for them,” he said. “What else do they need?”
He explained, “We already had a meeting regarding general practice for the legal taxi drivers at the airport, and the [legal] taxi drivers will be informed of the details soon.
“We will allow only nine taxis from PLBS and nine from Phuket Maikhao Sakhu Co into the airport at any one time. Other drivers from those groups will have to find somewhere to park their taxis outside the airport.”
“The parking lot soon will be renovated, so the taxi drivers have to move out.
“The taxi drivers should understand that they need to share businesses with others. Jobs at the airport are not just for taxi drivers. Tour operators can also come and do business at the airport.” Mr Pratueng said.
As to the continuing problem of black taxis, Pol Lt Col Nimit Promma, an investigator with the Department of Special Investigation – which recently opened an office at the airport to try to clamp down on organised crime – said that stamping out black taxis at the airport was “impossible”.