The temporary surcharge hikes for taxi rides from Changi Airport and Mandai Wildlife Reserve, introduced in 2022, will be made permanent starting July 1, 2024. This decision aims to address the persistent reluctance of taxi drivers to service these locations due to long waiting times and high operational costs.
Initially, the surcharge increase was a temporary measure to attract more taxi drivers to Changi Airport and Mandai Wildlife Reserve. Before the hike, the surcharge was $5 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5 PM to 11:59 PM, and $3 at other times. However, the temporary increase saw the surcharge rise to $8 between 5 PM and 11:59 PM and $6 during other times for Changi Airport. For Mandai attractions, the surcharge increased from $3 to $5 for pickups between 1 PM and 11:59 PM.
The primary reason for this increase was the high fuel costs and the more lucrative opportunities available in the Central Business District (CBD) and during nighttime. Taxi drivers found it less appealing to travel to the airport, where they risked long waiting periods with their engines idling. The hope was that by raising the location surcharge, more cabbies would be incentivized to service these areas.
Permanent Implementation
From July 1, 2024, passengers taking a taxi from Changi Airport, Changi Airfreight Centre, Airport Police Station, and the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore will continue to pay an additional $8 between 5 PM and 11:59 PM, or an additional $6 during other times. Similarly, for taxi rides starting from the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Bird Paradise, passengers will pay a $5 surcharge if picked up between 1 PM and 11:59 PM.
ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest taxi operator, along with Strides Premier, announced these permanent fare hikes on June 24, 2024. Trans-Cab and Prime also published notices regarding these changes in the Business Times on the same day. A ComfortDelGro spokesperson clarified that these surcharges are imposed by the organizations managing these areas and not by the taxi companies themselves. These organizations must inform the Land Transport Authority before implementing or making any changes to the surcharges.
Impact and Reactions
The Mandai Wildlife Group reported that the average waiting time for taxis at Mandai Wildlife Reserve remains between 30 to 60 minutes, even after the initial temporary $3 location surcharge was introduced in August 2022. With the latest revision, the group hopes to encourage more taxi drivers to consider Mandai Wildlife Reserve as a preferred pickup destination, thereby reducing waiting times for guests. The group also noted that there are no plans to further revise the surcharge rate in the near future.
In addition to the taxi surcharge hikes, ride-hailing platforms like Grab, Gojek, and Tada have also extended their temporary fees to help drivers cope with rising costs. These fees, introduced in 2022, will remain in place for another six months until December 31, 2024. Grab and Gojek will continue to charge passengers a temporary fee of 50 cents per trip, while Tada will impose a fee of 50 cents for rides with fares $18 and below, and 80 cents for rides that cost $18.10 and above. The money collected from these fees will go directly to the drivers to help manage high fuel costs and other operational expenses.
The permanent implementation of higher surcharges for taxi rides from Changi Airport and Mandai attractions reflects the ongoing challenges faced by taxi drivers in servicing these areas. By making these surcharges permanent, authorities hope to ensure a steady supply of taxis for passengers while helping drivers manage their operational costs.
