AIRPORT FIXED PRICE FARES: As ever in the taxi trade, one region’s common sense is another’s chaos

There’s no shortage of opinion when it comes to airport fares, and TaxiPoint’s latest industry question about whether drivers would support fixed price airport taxi fares has stirred up quite a mix of responses. From Glasgow to the Wirral, cabbies had plenty to say, and the split in opinions shows just how complex this issue is across different licensing areas.

For some, fixed airport fares are nothing new. In places like Glasgow, Bristol, and Liverpool, drivers say it’s already standard practice. As Allan Nugent put it, Glasgow has long used fixed rates to simplify things, especially since the airport isn’t even in the city itself. The surcharge system there can be a headache, so quoting a flat price “saves all the hassle”. Others like Craig Robertson echoed that sentiment, noting Glasgow taxis have done it “for years”.

Down south, several drivers reported similar setups. Andy Robinson said his firm has been fixed “for 20 years” for airports and hospitals, while Mark Blurton and Nathan Plattini both said all their airport jobs are set at flat rates. The trouble, though, is the new wave of undercutting by app-based platforms. Blurton, who runs an eight-seater, pointed to ride-hail “ridiculous prices” ranging from £67 for Derby to Manchester Airport and £52 to Birmingham, which is roughly half of what traditional operators charge. His verdict? “It’s blatantly obvious they’re aiming to put small operators like myself out of business.”

Many echoed frustrations about that same price race. “Price wars kill the game,” said Garry Metcalfe bluntly. Others, like John Paul Leasing, see no point in trying to fix fares: “Set what you like, someone will still undercut you.”

Then there’s the practical side. Several drivers questioned how a fixed system would even work given all the variables. Eddie Baker asked how fares could be fixed when pick-up and drop-off addresses vary so much. John Minshall added that differing passenger numbers, vehicles, and pick- ups make standardisation a headache.

Some drivers pointed out the elephant in the room: airport fees. With drop-off charges climbing, the idea of a single “set fare” can quickly unravel. “Ten quid tariff to exit the airport,” pointed out Gary Causer. Others like David Barlow argued the meter’s there for a reason: “Why should drivers sit for 20 minutes in traffic and not be paid?” It’s a fair question, especially when some airports are notorious for gridlock at peak hours.

Join us on WhatsApp here

Then there’s the debate over fairness. Steven Hunter said: “Drivers have to make an acceptable living or they simply won’t do airport work. Why not ask plumbers or electricians to do the same? It’s a free market.” His point reflects the view that airports and passengers shouldn’t dictate prices in a trade already squeezed by rising costs.

Some drivers, like Douglas Brown in Edinburgh, say fixed fares can actually backfire. At the airport there, private hire operators run flat rates, but “from what I hear those fixed prices are a shocker”. For him, the meter gives fairer value to both driver and passenger, and any attempt to impose one-size-fits-all rules across the UK would be doomed: “What works in one authority won’t work in another.”

Still, there’s a sense from others that fixed prices bring simplicity and predictability for both sides. “Rather than explain how the surcharge works, we just quote a fixed price,” Nugent said, summing up why some firms swear by it. For regular airport jobs, consistency builds trust and avoids the endless argument about fares before the wheels even turn.

But it’s also clear that the market isn’t level. Ride-hail platforms are distorting expectations. As multiple drivers pointed out, when passengers can sometimes get a 60-mile trip for a fraction of the price, local firms struggle to justify sustainable rates. The problem isn’t the idea of fixed fares itself, it’s who’s setting them and whether they reflect the real cost of running a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle.

As ever in the taxi trade, one region’s common sense is another’s chaos. While some licensing authorities might fancy the idea of regulating airport fares, most drivers see it as either unnecessary or unworkable. For many, the system’s already working just fine or at least as fine as it can in a market warped by app-based pricing, airport fees, and rising fuel costs. The trade’s too diverse, the airports too different, and the economics too unpredictable.