Taxi drivers say Dublin Airport permits will have negative impact

A new system comes into effect on Wednesday which requires taxi drivers to register and pay for a new permit if they want to collect pre-booked fares. Picture: Stephen Collins /Collins Photos.

Taxi drivers have said that new permits introduced at Dublin Airport will negatively impact drivers and passengers alike.

A new system comes into effect on Wednesday which requires taxi drivers to register and pay for a permit if they want to collect pre-booked fares.

The Dublin Airport taxi permit, which costs €10 a year, is separate from the permit that allows drivers to pick up from ranks outside the two terminals.

A spokesperson for Daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, said the new system will simplify the process for drivers picking up pre-booked fares and will have no impact on passengers.

However, taxi app FreeNow said the majority of drivers believe the move will reduce availability and increase wait times.

It said that drivers without the necessary permit will not be able to access Dublin Airport grounds and collect passengers from Zone 18, a zone that accounts for hundreds of thousands of trips annually which is separate to the main taxi rank in front of the airport.

Drivers who purchase the new permit will be prohibited by the Daa from accepting both immediate and advance booking requests from passengers while on the grounds of the airport, according to a statement by FreeNow.

A survey conducted by FreeNow showed that 83% of drivers are likely to avoid picking up passengers from the airport.

It also revealed that 80% are concerned about the negative impact the decision will have on their earnings.

"We were disappointed by this announcement from the Daa. The new taxi permit will not only impede the ability of taxi drivers to collect passengers from Dublin Airport but could also trigger increased waiting times for passengers and potentially leave more travellers stranded at the airport, particularly at peak times," said FreeNow Ireland general manager, Charlie Gleeson.

Dublin Airport is the most popular drop-off destination for drivers, accounting for millions of trips each year, according to FreeNow.

It said that a significant number of drivers will now be leaving the airport after drop-offs and driving back to the city with an empty taxi.

FreeNow said it would be working with the Daa over the coming months to ensure that its drivers can continue to work from the airport without disruption and without the taxi supply being compromised.