MP Henry Smith urges Gatiwck Airport to grant access to more taxi firms
THE town's MP has called on the owners of Gatwick Airport to allow greater competition between taxi companies.
Checker Cars is the only taxi firm that has booking desks in the airport and is allowed to have its cars parked outside.
But a journey with the company from the airport to Crawley High Street costs £16, while other firms only charge around £10.
Checker Cars has had the advantage since securing an exclusivity contract offered by BAA, the previous owner of the airport, in January 2008.
Bookings with other firms have to be made by phone and pick-up points have to be arranged without using the airport's taxi ranks.
Asif Khan, manager of Alpha Cars, said: "It would be fairer if more than one taxi company was given the chance to work from the airport because the customer then has more choice.
"By giving people different options it would make the price more competitive."
Peter Hartfield, from Metro Cars, said: " If you put a Hackney rank there it would alleviate some of the problems [of too many taxis] in the town centre."
Checker's contract at the airport ends on April 1 and Global Infrastructure Partners, which took over the airport from BAA in 2009, is welcoming bids from other taxi firms for a new three-year contract.
Crawley MP Henry Smith has contacted the owners and asked them to allow more than one taxi firm to work out of both terminals.
He said: "I believe it is important that where possible customers are offered a choice. By having multiple taxi firms it will create greater competition in prices.
"Before Christmas I met taxi firm representatives and they expressed concerns about the current system."
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