Transport Ministry greenlights luggage handling hike for airport taxis
The Transport Ministry has agreed to the hike in the luggage handling fee to Bt20 per piece of luggage 26 inches in length or larger, though the first two pieces would be handled for free.
More than 100 members of the Thai Public Taxi Association and the Task Force for Organising Service Vehicles at Suvarnabhumi Airport blocked the entrance to the Transport Ministry on Thursday (November 7) to demand a response to their request for hikes in fares and luggage-handling fees but dispersed around 3.40pm, apparently satisfied with the results of negotiations with Ministry representatives announced by association president Pallop Chayinthu.
“The Transport Ministry has agreed to the hike in the luggage handling fee to Bt20 per piece of luggage 26 inches in length or larger, though the first two pieces would be handled for free,” he said.
“In line with our request to increase the airport surcharge rates from Bt50 to Bt70 for normal-size taxis and from Bt70 to Bt90 for larger taxis, the Ministry asked us to postpone the hike until the economy improves, fearing that it would create burden for clients and we are happy to comply,” Pallop added.
“Our last request is to extend the mandatory service life of a taxi from 9 years to 12 years to let owners of older taxis continue using their vehicles,” he said. “The Department of Land Transport told us that they had already submitted an appeal to the Council of State and are awaiting a response. However, Minister Saksayam Chidchob promised that we should hear the result by November 29.”
Related Story: Airport taxi drivers block off Transport Ministry