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Have Manchester's black cabs lost Manchester Airport?
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16534		 Page 1 of 21
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Have Manchester's black cabs lost Manchester Airport?
Major contract win for Arrow

1st April 2011

Taxi business Arrow has secured its third major airport concession in as many years after winning a five year contract to be the exclusive private hire operator at Manchester Airport.

Leeds-based Arrow is investing £700,000 in a new fleet of vehicles which will operate from pick-up points from the airports' three terminals.

Arrow chairman David Richmond said: "We are delighted to be working with Manchester Airport to provide a high quality, seamless taxi private hire service that befits the high standard of one of Europe’s largest airports.

"We bring unrivalled experience from our Leeds Bradford Airport and East Midlands Airport operation offering passengers a high quality, value for money, pre-paid service.“

Arrow was awarded a similar concession at Leeds Bradford Airport in January 2008 and a further five year contract at East Midlands Airport in 2009.

Mr Richmond originally bought the company in 2004 when it had just 20 cars in the fleet.

His earlier businesses included Scorpio, a Leeds-based print and finishing company sold in 2003 with a £20m turnover and 500 staff.

Source; http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/mobile/y ... arrow.html
Author:  tom2907 [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:24 am ]
Post subject:  Arrow V MIA
Yes Brummie, it looks bad. Arrow are initially coming into Manchester as a suplementary service to the black cabs. However as we know, that is how they started on the other two airports, before working the black cabs out.
At a meeting between GMB and the Airport staff on Mon am, the GMB rep started his opening marks rather aggressivley (allegedly) the representative from the airport just stood up collected his papers and walked out refusing to speak to the trade rep. It would appear minds are already made up.
I will update when possible.
Author:  Sussex [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 6:58 am ]
Post subject: 
Hasn't there always been a PH operator working side by side with the cab rank?

I can think of three previous PH firms working there.
Author:  grandad [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Arrow V MIA
tom2907 wrote:
However as we know, that is how they started on the other two airports, before working the black cabs out.

That may be how it worked at Leeds/Bradford but at East midland they took over from Checker cars. There was no working alongside them at all.
Author:  bloodnock [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:07 am ]
Post subject: 
Being just a wee business I wondered, Do such Big companies get contracts like this through fair play or is there a certain amount of palm greasing that goes on to smooth thier progress?
Author:  Nidge [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:19 am ]
Post subject: 
bloodnock wrote:
Being just a wee business I wondered, Do such Big companies get contracts like this through fair play or is there a certain amount of palm greasing that goes on to smooth thier progress?


They use that much grease it's unreal mate. Arrow at East Midlands are reason they implmented the parking charge.
Author:  GBC [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Arrow V MIA
tom2907 wrote:
the GMB rep started his opening marks rather aggressivley


Who could that have been?! :D
Author:  Sussex [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Arrow V MIA
GBC wrote:
tom2907 wrote:
the GMB rep started his opening marks rather aggressivley


Who could that have been?! :D

I might be wrong, but I don't think the Manchester black cab trade would request support on this issue from you know who.

Although I suspect he would be more than pleased to offer it. 8-[
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
Arrow Private Hire are advertising an EXCLUSIVE Taxi Private Hire service at Manchester Airport from 1st May 2011 on their website.

http://www.arrowprivatehire.co.uk/
Author:  tom2907 [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:06 pm ]
Post subject:  PH v Taxi
Exclusive Private hire service, does not mention exclusive TAXI service.
Author:  Brummie Cabbie [ Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PH v Taxi
tom2907 wrote:
Exclusive Private hire service, does not mention exclusive TAXI service.

So what is the present state of play at Manchester Airport?

Is there a danger of the black cabs losing the facility?
Author:  toots [ Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PH v Taxi
Brummie Cabbie wrote:
tom2907 wrote:
Exclusive Private hire service, does not mention exclusive TAXI service.

So what is the present state of play at Manchester Airport?

Is there a danger of the black cabs losing the facility?


Surely there is always a danger of losing something you have if you don't take care of it :wink:
Author:  GBC [ Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PH v Taxi
Brummie Cabbie wrote:
tom2907 wrote:
Exclusive Private hire service, does not mention exclusive TAXI service.

So what is the present state of play at Manchester Airport?

Is there a danger of the black cabs losing the facility?


We had a threat very similar to this from Addison Lee and a couple of others at Heathrow the other year, with 'ranks' being created at the front of the terminals and desks at the arrivals gates.

The United Trade Groups (LTDA, Unite etc) reps approach was pleasant, and all very well mannered.

But the bottom line was the Airport would have come to a standstill for a few days as around 12'000 Taxis took up residence.

The idea was shelved.

Manchester Cabs needs to grow some balls and take a stance. If the GMB isn't big enough, and it should be, then start a new trade body for the airport drivers.
Author:  grandad [ Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PH v Taxi
tom2907 wrote:
Exclusive Private hire service, does not mention exclusive TAXI service.


No, it says exclusive taxi private hire service. I guarantee that the place where the bookings are being taken also states taxi.
Author:  tom2907 [ Thu Apr 07, 2011 6:52 am ]
Post subject: 
Arrow have not started at Manchester yet, but, they will start May 1. History tells us they will, sooner or later work the hackneys out.

Manchester drivers are behind the times, people should have watched what happened at Birmingham. A voluntary dress code should have been adopted, and facilities for business travellers to prebook should have been made readily available. Very few drivers even have chip and pin terminals, I believe they are a must at airport ranks.

Their are 3 unions at the airport, GMB, Unite and the Asian Taxi drivers association. Make a guess at where the problems start.
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