Edinburgh Airport steps in to prevent taxi firms squabbling at rank
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Edinburgh Airport has told rival taxi drivers in its ranks to remain in their vehicles to prevent them from squabbling in front of customers.
Image: Edinburgh Evening News
It is understood the airport has intervened to ensure cabbies stay in their vehicles to prevent them from influencing customers’ decision and reducing confrontations when rival drivers congregated at the head of their respective ranks.
City Cabs and Edinburgh City Private Hire currently both operate the ranks in a joint venture providing transfers to inbound passengers at the airport.
Meanwhile there are claims that City Cabs and Edinburgh City Private Hire drivers have grown frustrated at rival firms’ illegally picking up passengers in the drop-off zone after transporting customers to the airport.
A City Cabs bulletin to all members stated all drivers should not be “abusive” to others at the rank.
Marshals have been given designated positions in order for the process to run as smoothly as possible for the customers.
The bulletin added: “Drivers will also be told to remain in their taxis unless they are having a cigarette, topping up their decrement card or visiting the toilet.
“All marshals must be positioned within the area marked within the red box on the adjacent plan. Customers must have a choice without a human influence.
“In addition all drivers from both ranks should not in any way engage with customers prior to them getting into a vehicle, nor should drivers be abusive to others at the rank.”
Drivers who do not cooperate with the rules the airport has in place will have their decrement card revoked while marshals will have their ID Pass suspended.
Edinburgh City Private Hire boss Kevin Woodburn told the Evening News he was unaware of any issues at the airport.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned the policy on drivers and driver behaviour has been the same we’ve worked with for the past 15 years. We’ve not put anything out to our drivers. Nothing has changed.”
Airport bosses have reminded both companies of their responsibilities in relation to passenger waiting times, driver dress code and behaviour as well as the ability to work in conjunction.
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “Marshals have been reassigned to a specific area so passengers can have a greater choice of onward transport into the city and beyond. This reassignment also allows us to direct people towards legitimate airport taxis rather than those illegally touting in the drop-off zone.
“We have reminded all firms about their responsibilities to ensure passengers have a positive experience in Edinburgh.”
