Driver of five-door “van taxis” at Suvarnabhumi airport have threatened to strike if authorities do not allow them to collect additional fees from passengers to cope with high fuel costs. The fees include an increase in the airport surcharge from 50 to 100 baht per trip. Charges for extra luggage and the use of flat rates instead of the meter if passengers want to travel long distances. A group of 1,700 van-taxi drivers at the airport is making the demands
He reasoned their vehicles cannot use the same surcharges and fares as normal taxis because they have larger engines and more expensive fuel bills. Passengers with two or more bags should have to pay additional money because heavier cars use more fules. He suggested 30 baht a bag for the initial rate. The flat rate price is also important. For example, if passengers want to travel from suvarnabhumi to Pattaya, under the new meter-based fares they pay 1,132 baht, but the flat rate would be 1,300 baht,which is more reasonable for van taxis. Standard flat rates would be set in accordance with distances
Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said the van-taxi drivers complaints were “reasonable” and ordered officials to gather information on the costs that van taxi drivers have to shoulder to consider their proposal in more detail.