More metered taxis to serve Phuket Airport
PHUKET: A committee of tourism and transport officials yesterday agreed to allow Phuket Taxi Meter Service to operate 23 more metered taxis out of Phuket International Airport (PIA), while a request by Phuket Mai Khao Company to operate 20 metered taxis was tentatively approved.
Chaired by Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha, the committee granted permission for Phuket Taxi Meter Service, which has been operating 42 metered taxis at PIA, to use 65 vehicles in total.
Phuket Taxi Meter Service had applied to operate 46 more metered taxis at the airport.
Phuket Mai Khao Co had its request for permission to operate 20 metered taxis tentatively approved, awaiting confirmation that the company’s concession from Airports of Thailand (AOT) has been signed by the AOT board.
On January 17, Phuket Mai Khao Co signed an agreement to allow the company to operate 20 limousine taxis and 60 vans at PIA. Sent to Bangkok to be signed by the AOT board, the contract has yet to be returned approved.
Phuket Mai Khao Co must present the contract signed by the AOT board before permission to operate more vehicles can be granted, said V/Gov Tri.
To become official, the conclusions of the committee must now be approved by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit.
Although it does not have a concession from AOT to operate taxis at PIA, the Taxi Meter Association requested approval to operate 30 metered taxis. The request was rejected.
The Taxi Meter Association is subcontracted by Phuket Taxi Meter Service to supply vehicles and drivers to provide Phuket Taxi Meter Service’s airport taxi service.
Phuket Taxi Meter Service collects a fee of 40 baht for every customer the Taxi Meter Association picks up from PIA.
Members of the committee were Phuket Provincial Land Transportation Chief Chanchavarn Ngamtap; Phuket Provincial Public Prosecutors’ Office Chief Chetvit Tontipantuvadee; PIA Director Wicha Nurnlop; Phuket Provincial Traffic Police Chief Lt Col Theerawat Liamsuwan; Phuket Tourist Association Vice-President Sarayuth Mallam; and a representative from the Tourism Authority of Thailand Southern Region 4 Office.
