Rogue operators ‘hampering’ airport taxis holiday boom

Airport taxi operators at Grantley Adams International Airport are reporting a seasonal boost in business, but the influx of unauthorised taxis—they called “snatchers”—is cutting into their seasonal earnings.

Anthony Harewood, president of the Barbados Transport Co-Op Society Limited, told Barbados TODAY that while airport taxi operators are seeing some increase in business, unauthorised taxis are encroaching on their territory and taking potential customers.

“Yes, an increase of business for the taxi operators, and we are grateful,” he said. “But it’s not what everybody would expect. We have what we call ‘snatchers’, which are unauthorised taxis coming to the airport and soliciting jobs that would normally go to the taxis that are authorised.”

Harewood explained that these “snatchers” are not part of any of the franchise taxi operators at the airport: “They have to come through the proper procedures. The airport has franchises with operators that meet airport standards. You have to sign an agreement with the airport and have your taxi legally licenced on the road.”

Residents and visitors exiting the airport.

He mentioned one particular taxi company receiving customers at the airport without proper authorisation, which continues to pose a challenge for airport taxi operators. 

“That is one that has always been a challenge for us. People can request this service, which should not have been allowed in any case because there are taxis here. I mean, taxi rates are taxi rates for all taxis, not just the airport taxis,” Harewood said.

The president of the association, who is also a taxi operator, said that despite the airport being extremely busy at this time of year, most operators are not getting enough customers.

He said: “Yes, the airport is busy. Yes, the island is busy. But we have so many people coming to the airport to pick up their friends and family. Obviously, these jobs are not coming to the taxis. We have operators moving jobs from the airport that are not going to the taxi operators.”

Harewood said he expects an increase in business for airport taxi operators after the Christmas holidays. 

“After Christmas, then you will see another pickup in business. But right now, it’s mainly families coming back in,” he added. 

(LG)