A fuel shortage is severely disrupting taxi services at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with large SUV taxis gradually suspending operations and only about 2,500 vehicles currently in
active service, out of a fleet estimated at more than 5,000, operators say.
Drivers of the larger vehicles favoured by families and travellers with bulky luggage have had to stop working as they’re struggling to secure fuel supplies, Panlop Chayinthu, president of the Suvarnabhumi Taxi Coordination Association, said on Friday.
Drivers are increasingly reluctant to accept long-distance fares, fearing they may run out of fuel en route with no guarantee of being able to refuel, he said. The situation has already reduced the number of taxis available at the airport.
Of the 5,000 to 6,000 taxis registered with the association, only about 2,500 are currently operating, he said. Some drivers have halted services altogether, while others have adjusted their schedules, opting to work only in the morning when fuel is easier to obtain, or limiting trips to short distances.
Like the vast majority of the Bangkok taxi fleet, most of the taxis serving the airport use LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or NGV (natural gas for vehicles) to save costs and reduce emissions.
“This is not about expensive fuel — it’s about fuel we cannot get,” Mr Panlop said, calling on the government to step in and address the issue. He added that operators are awaiting a fully empowered administration to take formal action.
Government officials have been issuing daily announcements that the country’s oil reserves are in good shape despite the Middle East war. But distribution bottlenecks and hoarding have resulted in hundreds of service stations running out of some fuels on a regular basis.
The taxi association is preparing to submit proposals to the government, including a request to shift fare calculation from traditional meters to an application-based system, as part of broader efforts to mitigate the impact on drivers and passengers.
Source: Bangkok Post