Ministry to conference with taxi union regarding airport ride-sharing debate next week

The Transport Ministry is set to address concerns over fairness in airport taxi services at Suvarnabhumi Airport, following a protest by traditional taxi drivers on May 21. The meeting, scheduled for May 28, will be chaired by Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote and attended by the Public Taxi Drivers Association, taxi cooperatives, ride-hailing stakeholders, and related agencies.

The protest, led by Woraphon Kamkhuntod, President of the Professional Public Taxi Drivers Association, presented a formal petition with three major demands. These include equal access and visibility for traditional taxis at Suvarnabhumi Airport, a review and revision of laws and regulations governing app-based ride-hailing platforms, and a reconsideration or possible revocation of the permission granted to app-based vehicles to operate within Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Jirut Wisaljit, Director-General of the Department of Land Transport (DLT), acknowledged the concerns of some taxi drivers about declining ridership due to app-based services at the airport. However, he clarified that the airport must accommodate various service tiers to cater to diverse consumer needs.

Suvarnabhumi Airport offers multiple public transport options, including buses, interprovincial coaches, meter taxis, app-based green-plate vehicles, and limousines. The goal of the meeting is to ensure that both traditional and app-based services adapt to evolving technology while maintaining consumer choice and fair competition at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Airports of Thailand (AOT) has been tasked with reviewing the accessibility and service models of public transport at the airport. The DLT has been instructed to compile the issues raised and consult with the association's legal team to explore legal and regulatory solutions.

The ministry emphasized that any threats to shut down airport operations will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in accordance with the law. The upcoming meeting aims to reach a practical resolution that allows both traditional and app-based services to coexist at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

This situation reflects an ongoing global trend in many countries, where traditional taxi services seek legal or policy support to maintain competitiveness and service standards in the face of disruptive app-based competitors. The Public Taxi Drivers Association’s concerns suggest pressures to revise or enforce stricter rules that could control the operation of ride-hailing services at the airport, ensure equal opportunity in licensing and pick-up privileges, and prevent unfair competition or violations by app-based drivers.

While detailed specific regulatory texts or government mandates directly addressing this issue at Suvarnabhumi Airport were not found, the general context indicates rising friction and calls for a fair operational environment for traditional taxi drivers. The visibility of this issue implies possible forthcoming policy discussions or regulatory adjustments to address the balance between traditional and app-based taxi services at major Thai airports.

For precise legal documents or official government announcements on this topic, further direct inquiry with Thai transport authorities or recent official publications would be necessary.