Bangkok taxi drivers threaten to blockade airport entrances if govt doesn't stop Grab services there

Taxi drivers in Bangkok threatened to block the entry and exit points at Suvarnabhumi Airport if the Thailand government does not shut down the Grab ride-hailing service at the capital's main airport.

Bangkok Post reported that about 50 taxi drivers protested outside the Thailand parliament on May 20.

They demanded the shut down of the Grab service lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The protest was led by the head of the Thai Public Taxi Association after the Thailand government allowed Grab drivers to establish pick-up and drop-off points in the airport.

The head of the taxi association claimed taxi drivers were less well-off as passengers were hailing rides on apps rather than using hailed taxis.

The protestors sought the help of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to resolve the problem.

One condition they want met is the revocation of the Ride-Hailing via an Electronic System regulation, as such regulations allegedly mainly benefitted the investors and platform developers at the expense of taxi drivers.

It was also alleged that some riding hailing app drivers have negatively impacted tourists, but news reports mistook them for taxi drivers.

The association wanted to make the government choose between Grab and taxi drivers.

Grab Holdings is a multinational tech company headquartered in Singapore.

The taxi drivers gave the government a May 21 deadline to respond.

Government response

In response, the Department of Land Transport in Thailand has warned it will take legal action against any taxi drivers who attempted to blockade Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thailand's six international airports are run by Airports of Thailand Plc.

They oversee the provision of access to airports for drivers using ride-hailing applications.

It was reported that there are about 6,000 trips of traditional metered taxis at Suvarnabhumi Airport a day.

Ride-hailing vehicles make about another 5,000 trips, but these number includes traditional taxi drivers who also use ride-hailing apps.

The land transport chief said taxi drivers must adapt to technology and would discuss the issue on May 28.

Top photo via Facebook video