Number of Suvarnabhumi airport taxis to be increased to 10,000

The number of taxis operating out of Suvarnabhumi airport will be increased from 2,500 to 10,000 and those dropping passengers off will be allowed to take passengers on return trips, said Deputy Transport Minister Chainant Charoensiri yesterday. He said the measures were meant to provide more service choices for passengers and boost transportation convenience for them.

Gen Chainant's decision was apparently made in response to concerns raised by many people that they would have a hard time finding taxis to take them from the city to the airport.

Earlier, authorities said taxis operating out of the airport would have to register with the airport authority and non-registered cabs would not be allowed to pick up passengers from the airport.

However, Gen Chainant said the Airports of Thailand (AoT) is likely to collect a 100 baht surcharge per trip from cabs taking passengers from the airport. He said he would hold a meeting today with representatives from the Land Transport, AoT and agencies responsible for public transportation to discuss transportation problems at the airport.

The AoT has planned to set up a business unit responsible to provide public transport services.

AoT president Chotisak Asapaviriya said so far the agency has not yet issued an announcement on cab surcharges. But the rate may be 100 baht per trip.

The surcharge would provide more convenience to passengers as they would not have to wait for cabs for so long, said Mr Chotisak.

Gen Chainant's statement came after caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said yesterday the government would urgently tackle transportation problems at the airport.

Taxis picking up passengers from the terminals would be registered and their number would be increased to meet demand.

Mr Suriya also said the authorities would ensure that Suvarnabhumi airport would be a mafia-free zone and those mafia figures or gangs who planned to move their base from Don Muang airport to the new airport would face a severe crackdown. He said he has instructed Gen Chainant not to allow the presence of any mafia people or gangs at the new airport.

Meanwhile, Land Transport Department chief Piyapan Champasut said he disagreed with the AoT's plan to set up a business unit to operate public transport services, saying public transport should not be business-oriented.

He also opposed any move to collect parking fees from state-run Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's passenger buses and buses operated by the Transport Co. The planned collection of parking fees would discourage passenger buses from picking up passengers at the airport.

Opas Phetmunee, acting director of BMTA, said his agency will operate three more bus routes to the new airport: a 41.5km route between the southern bus terminal and Suvarnabhumi airport, Wong Wian Yai to Suvarnabhumi covering 53km and Central Plaza Rama II to the new airport covering 48km.

The fares will be collected based on travelling distance with the maximum fare of 35 baht.

A public relations campaign for the new routes will be launched on Sept 25, said Mr Opas.