Present for the occasion was Airports of Thailand (AoT) President Dr Kerati Kijmanawat “to inspect the readiness of taxi services provided through the Grab application”.
“Service quality, convenience and safety are of utmost importance,” he said.
Also present was Monchai Tanode, General Manager of Phuket International Airport under the Phuket branch of Airports of Thailand (AoT Phuket), joined by Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan, Sakhu Police Chief Pol Col Salan Tantitsakul and Kornpitak Asawarujan, head of the Transport Division at Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO).
“The popularity of ride-sharing applications among both Thai and international tourists has been growing. Previously, due to the absence of taxi app services, passengers sometimes faced inconvenience and unfavourable situations, having to walk about 500 metres to and from Phuket airport [in order to use taxis ordered via mobile phone apps.],” Dr Kerati admitted.
“Weather conditions, whether hot or rainy, added to the challenges. Therefore, AoT aims to be a provider of quality airport services,” he said.
Grab Taxi is just the first to be approved to serve passengers at the airport, Dr Kerati noted.
More taxi app services are under review for approval, he added.
“AoT has held meetings and discussions regarding safety standards and procedures. In addition to passenger convenience, ensuring passenger safety is paramount. Ride-sharing app operators are required to submit commitments, and AoT will establish safety standards for passenger pick-up and drop-off,” he said.
Every vehicle registered as an app taxi intending to pick up passengers at the airport will undergo scrutiny to prevent any fraudulent or unauthorised activities, such as taking passengers to unwanted locations or tours, Dr Kerati assured.
“AoT is open to all ride-sharing applications to participate. We confirm our willingness to engage with every app, for them to register and to collaborate together to establish a passenger pick-up and drop-off system. We treat all providers equally in this regard,” Dr Kerati said.
Three other ride-sharing apps have expressed interest and submitted commitments: Asia Cab, Hello Phuket and the AirAsia ‘Super’ app.
“Negotiations with them are ongoing, and they are expected to be operational soon. Other taxi app providers have not yet submitted commitments,” Dr Kerati explained.
App taxis will not be allowed to wait for passengers on airport grounds. Vehicles will only be permitted to pick up and drop off passengers within the designated areas. At the launch today, the designated zone located between the international and domestic terminals, was decorated with banners specifically welcoming Grab Taxi drivers.
Dr Kerati pointed out the Phuket airport currently serves about 40,000 passengers a day, with about half of those being international travellers.
“Considering these figures, there is a necessity for public transportation vehicles. Approximately 20% of these passengers use taxi apps, which means vehicles are needed to serve about 8,000 passengers arriving and departing from Phuket Airport each day,” he said.
“Previously, passengers may not have experienced the level of convenience they deserved, but the inclusion of ride-sharing app options will significantly enhance the comfort and convenience for tourists,” he added.
Phuket Airport GM Mr Monchai noted, “Grab will have designated representatives overseeing the pick-up and drop-off points through the app to ensure that the taxis entering these areas are genuinely affiliated with Grab.
“There will be dedicated staff at these points, and if other apps are introduced in the future, additional areas will be allocated for them,” he added.
PLTO official Mr Kornpitak confirmed that only vehicles and drivers registered with the PLTO as providing taxi services via an app will be allowed to serve the airport.
The drivers must charge only the fees set out by the Ministry of Transport, as shared by Phuket MP Somchart last week. The drivers are not allowed to charge passengers any extra fees.
The taxis themselves must feature stickers created by Ministry of Transport on the front and rear of the vehicle, Mr Kornpitak said.
An additional sticker provided specifically by the PLTO must also be affixed to the vehicle alongside the others, he added.
LIMO TALKS
Mr Monchai confirmed that discussions with the ‘airport limousine’ taxi groups were to take place later today to address concerns regarding how the introduction of ride-sharing apps may impact their income and operating expenses.
For decades, two taxi cop-operatives have each paid AoT millions of baht for the exclusive right to serve passengers at Phuket airport: Phuket Airport Limousine and Business Service Co-Operative Ltd and and Phuket Mai Khao Sakhu Co Ltd.
The multi-year concessions expired in June, and the two co-operatives have been continuing under a four-month extension that expires next month, Mr Monchai said.
Future arrangements will be clarified at a later date, Mr Monchai said, noting that about 500 ‘limousine’ taxis’ operate at the airport.
Worrawit Srisakukammeet, Village Chief (Phu Yai Baan) of Moo 6 in Mai Khao, and representatives of other local taxi drivers in the area today met with AoT President Dr Kerati to present their “recommendations” for allowing Grab taxis to serve the airport.
The drivers said they wanted to ensure that Grab taxis and their drivers provided passengers the same standard of service as required under the concessions that now appear to be in the process of being phased out.
The drivers said the Grab taxis must meet the standards as the current limousine taxis used. The taxis should have a minimum engine size of 2,000cc and should carry comprehensive insurance for passenger safety, the drivers said.
Also of note, under the previous concessions issued by AoT, all vehicles used to provide taxi services at the airport were not allowed to be more than five years old.
In a point not clarified, the drivers also proposed that AoT consider adjusting the concession fees to align with potential changes in income.
In response, AoT acknowledged the recommendations and stated that they would consider them in the next steps of the process.