HCMC – Taxis picking up passengers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC may face an entry fee of VND5,000-15,000 per trip beginning in April this year, instead of monthly parking rental payments, which could lead to a surge in taxi fares.
TCP Investment JSC, the investor of the TCP parking lot, has announced to seven taxi companies operating at the airport the plan to charge a service fee ranging from VND5,000-15,000 per trip for traditional taxis, applicable from April 1.
The TCP parking lot plans to terminate the contract for renting outdoor parking spots, and instead arrange the number of parking spots based on the list of registered taxis at Tan Son Nhat airport.
Taxi drivers entering the airport parking lot through lanes C and D will receive a card at the entrance checkpoint and return it at the exit. The fee for each trip in lane C will be VND5,000, while lane D costs VND15,000, in addition to the VND10,000 entry fee at the airport gate.
Meanwhile, the HCMC Taxi Association has objected to the plan, emphasizing that the surcharge could drive up taxi fares and harm passengers’ interests.
For example, said association officials, the average cost of a taxi ride from the airport to the city center ranges from VND50,000 to VND100,000.
As per the plan, taxis would face a charge of VND15,000, equivalent to 30% of a VND50,000 fare when taking lane C to enter the airport. When driving in lane D, the total charge would be VND25,000, equivalent to 50% of a VND50,000 fare.
Moreover, as directed by the HCMC Department of Transport, the number of taxis entering the airport to pick up passengers cannot be guaranteed.
If implemented, the plan will cause taxis to waste time when picking up passengers at the airport and potentially cause congestion.
Source: The SaigonTimes