Agreement reached with airport taxis

17 September 2010

The relocation of pre-booked taxis to a dedicated area in the short stay car park at Jersey Airport will be implemented as from Friday 1 October 2010.

However, following discussions with representatives from private taxi organisations and guidance from the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA), agreement has been reached that the original flat fee charge of 60 pence will not be imposed.

The decision to relocate pre-booked private hire cars was taken to help relieve congestion in front of the arrival terminal and ease the transit for passengers who currently have to walk across a busy exit road. With this new location, passengers will now have just a short distance along a designated walkway to reach their pre-booked cab and therefore eradicate any potential danger involved with the current location.

Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Senator Paul Routier said, “I am pleased that initial concerns expressed by private cab operators have been resolved and we can continue to maintain the good relationships we have previously enjoyed with them. Furthermore, following discussions we have agreed to increase the number of designated spaces to 12.”

His sentiments are echoed by President of the Jersey Cab Drivers Association, Nigel Dodds, who said “At an extremely productive meeting with the Airport Director, Julian Green, earlier this week, I am very happy that we managed to find a compromise with regard to picking up our clients at the airport within the new designated area, free of charge."

The JCRA had previously advised Jersey Airport that imposing a 60 pence charge on pre-booked taxis but not on public rank taxis could raise serious concerns of economic discrimination under Jersey’s Competition Law, as well as raise taxi prices for consumers. The JCRA has expressed its satisfaction that the fee will no longer be imposed and that the matter has now been amicably resolved.

The central parking zone will remain as a holding area for public rank taxis to park before collecting passengers from the public taxi rank, as well as containing marked bays for delivery and emergency service vehicles. Sign posts will be installed in due course outside the arrivals terminal, advising airport users of the new layout.