Taxi Driver Online

Edinburgh Airport calls police over taxi drivers fare battle



Airport chiefs have called in the police to crack down on cabbies who flout the rules.

Concerns have been raised over drivers who pick up fares in the drop-off zone – which is banned under the terminal’s byelaws.

“There is major unrest between the official airport taxi companies and the rest of Edinburgh cabs who are coming into the airport to steal customers from under our noses.”

City Cabs Driver

City Cabs is the official taxi provider for the airport, which allows the firm’s drivers to park close to the main terminal.

One driver told the Evening News that rival firms were regularly “poaching” customers before they reached the designated rank in the multi-storey car park.

Airport bosses said they were working with police – as well as car park operators and the city council – to clamp down on those who breach the rules.

It is understood that the council’s licensing board will be writing to the drivers.

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “We’re aware that there is an issue with taxis picking up in our drop-off zone. This is not allowed under airport byelaws and we’re working with our car park operators Empark, Police Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council Licensing Board to deal with it.

“Our taxi operators are aware of this issue and support us as we try to ensure our drop-off area is safe, efficient and used for its proper purpose.”

The City Cabs driver, who did not wish to be named, said the problem began when the layout of the airport was changed in April to deal with an increase in passenger numbers.

He said: “There is major unrest between the official airport taxi companies, which are being charged £2.90 by the airport for each pick-up, and the rest of Edinburgh cabs who are coming into the airport to steal customers from under our noses.

“It is soul-destroying watching other taxis touting, dropping people off and getting fares straight away while we wait for up to two hours [in the designated rank] not making any money. And some drivers are coming in empty and trying to steal customers.

“I’m at the end of my tether. They are taking cash out of our pockets.”

However, Les McVay, company secretary at City Cabs, downplayed the extent of the problem and insisted the firm’s deal with the airport was a “success story”.

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Western, urged airport chiefs to do everything in their power to help the official drivers with whom they have a “commercial arrangement”.

He said: “Some people will chance their arm and I absolutely support Edinburgh Airport for cracking down on this practice.

“Our black cabs have been suffering since Uber was introduced in Edinburgh and this is another problem that hard-working taxi drivers have to deal with. Black cabs are a vital part of our transport infrastructure.”

Recent figures show the airport enjoyed its busiest-ever May with more than 1.1 million passengers.

source: http://www.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh- ... -1-4158246

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

In other words they aren't earning enough parking fees so they want to force increased car park usage

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

It's not that big an issue, 99.99% of those at the Drop off zone are dropping off, the amount lost through dodging a Parking is about £1.90 just which you just add to the price, thouigh why the greedy airport cant give you a 10 minute drive through collect option in the main carpark I just dont know, if your punters standing their ready then it should be treated no differently to a drop off.

Usually and Airports being airports you trip over 15 minutes and they start taking about a fiver off, then £8 and then after an hour the skys the limit...the parking people will never lose money thats for sure.

I just pass on the Parking to the client, they know that before they book unless its under 15 Minutes in which case it's factored into my PH price anyway...

Much ado about nothing....and I'm sure Britains finest have much more p[ressing things to do like keeping the Airport safe rather than some pathetic little Spat between Taxi or Parking firms.



Whos stealing what, your either Pre booked or your an Airport taxi....If not your a tout and that's nearly impossible as their is no where you could sit and tout at....the Airport Taxi Suppliers have EDI sewn up .

And a Customer can order Any Taxi in the Land if they want to just as long as the pre book them directly...

Surely the people being picked up at the drop of zone are pre booked so if they are forced to pay £1.90 to cover the pick up fee all it will do is enrich the airport owners to suggest it's taking work from City cabs is a red herring because people going on holiday invariably book there return trip with the company who takes them out so the airport cars were never going to have a chance of picking them up.

But it's called a Drop of zone for a reason, personally i prefer the Pick up zone at EDI, the only bug bear at present is those nuisance Maple parking Chauffeur parking muppets and their dozy clients messin it up..a disorganised rabble trying to collect client cars on the cheap....except it isnt, it's the same parking price as all the rest of Surface parking area...Doh

They are still getting a pound for either a drop or pick up, I always tell anyone who wants picked up, to be at the drop off and call me , then its straight in load and go

If you do that then your breaking the Airport By laws..naughty Skippy.

And he's posted it on here for the airport officials to see

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Pick the bones out:

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/edin ... cument.pdf

3(28) Fail to comply with signs etc.
No person whether on foot or whilst driving or
propelling a Vehicle shall neglect, fail or refuse to
comply with an indication or direction given by a
Constable or Airport Official or Sign exhibited by
or on behalf of the Airport Company.


fairly self explanatory

No person shall cause or permit a Private Hire Car
except a Private Hire Car authorised by the Airport
Company to enter the Airport for the purpose of
loading passengers. It is not an offence for pre-booked
Private Hire Cars to load passengers at a public car
park or at the designated pick-up point or other area
so designated by the Airport Company.

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

£3.90 in the pick up zone a £1 in the drop of zone .......Bit of greed on the airports part ! But laws are laws and if you decide to break them then take what comes to you

Is the airport private land or council owned? Private land then surly bylaws are not enforceable.

There are special bylaws for railway land so there could well be special bylaws for airport land.

_________________
Grandad,

Where the protectionism of corporate investments is concerned they always find a way to make the impossible possible.

that's cheap Stansted it's £4.50 minimum for the pick up car carp and £3 for the drop off zone

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector