Taxi fares at Tan Son Nhat Airport may rise from April

In a notice sent recently to seven taxi firms, TCP Vietnam Investment, which operates the parking lot at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, said it will terminate the contracts and will require those companies to rent parking spaces in the garage in front of the domestic terminal from April 1.

At that time, when taxis enter the parking lot the drivers will have to pay a fee of VND5,000 or 15,000 (US$0.21 or $0.63), depending on the lanes they choose to enter to pick up passengers. One lane is closer to the terminal than the others, allowing them to get passengers easier.

This fee is different from the VND10,000 fee that drivers already have to pay at the airport entrance.

TCP said the adjustment is to strictly manage transportation at the airport.

The HCMC Taxi Association said the new fees would cause taxi operators to spend much more than what they now pay when renting slots in the parking area.

As a result, operators will reduce the number of taxis sent to the airport and will raise the taxi fares to pick up passengers.

A representative of VinaSun said the company currently spends VND12 million (US$507) renting seven positions for taxis to park monthly at Tan Son Nhat to pick up passengers.

"Currently, VinaSun taxis enter the airport 2,000 times per day on average and if the company has to pay the fee as per the new regulation, it will have to spend VND300-900 million per month."

Tan Son Nhat International Airport is the busiest airport in the country, receiving an average of 60,000-70,000 passengers per day.

In front of the domestic terminal, the airport currently organizes six lanes for buses and cars (including traditional taxis and ride-hailing services) to pick up and drop off passengers.

Of these lanes, lane A, which is closest to the terminal, only allows cars that drop off passengers, while lane B is for private cars. The other four lanes are for taxis and cars of ride-hailing firms to pick up passengers.