The Land Transport Department (LTD) has denied a request by a group of taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi airport for an airport surcharge for passengers with excessive luggage.
LTD's deputy director-general Jirut Wisanjit said the department needs to conduct a study to weigh the pros and cons of the proposal.
"We need time to study the issue," he said.
If the proposal is implemented, it means drivers at all airports in the country can collect surcharges from passengers with excessive luggage, he said.
Ministerial regulations may also need amending in accordance with the increased surcharge if it comes into practice, Mr Jirut said.
It will take time to work out a rate for the surcharge and each stage needs to be done carefully, he said.
In the meantime, charging a passenger with excessive luggage extra is considered illegal and drivers who violate the regulations would be punished, he said. The violators would be fined or have their permits revoked.
Meanwhile, a group of taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi airport has demanded the LTD fix a higher starting charge for passengers leaving the airport, saying the amount they currently receive is unfairly low.
The drivers say they complete four to five journeys a day, while city drivers complete 13-14.
Mr Jirut insisted taxi drivers receive a fair taxi rate and drivers at Suvarnabhumi airport already get a 50-baht surcharge.
He said the department has already increased taxi fares several times.
Last year, the Transport Ministry approved the first phase of a fare hike which stipulates a rise of 8%. Another 5% will be added in the second phase in six months.
Under the new rate, passengers will be charged 35 baht for the first kilometre, and 5.50 baht more for every kilometre after that during the 1st-10th kilometres.
They will be charged 6.50 baht for every kilometre after 10km, up to 20km. In traffic jams where taxis move at less than six kilometres an hour, passengers will be charged 2 baht per minute.