A Transport Ministry committee on Monday voted to postpone increases in taxi fares and Bangkok airport surcharges while it waits for a study and adjust service levels.
The Central Land Transport Committee opted to wait for the study as the Department of Land Transport expected to complete it this month, said Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck, who chaired the Monday meeting.
The Transport Ministry last year approved a taxi-fare increase of 13% to be implemented in stages. The first rise of 8% took effect in December. The next increase of 5% was set to occur on the condition that the public proved adequately satisfied with taxi services.
A DLT satisfaction survey found 71% of those surveyed were satisfied, just a hair above the 70% level required for the next fare increase to kick in.
However, Mr Ormsin said, since natural gas for vehicles prices have not risen, a fare hike should be reconsidered because it would be difficult to roll back any increase.
He promised to reach a conclusion on the matter by the end of November.
As for increasing the 50-baht airport-taxi surcharge, Mr Ormsin said that the Central Land Transport Committee resolved on Monday to postpone the increase and order Airports of Thailand Plc to instead increase the number of daily trips each taxi at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports can make from the current four to between six and eight.
The new system would be tried for three months and authorities would then consider if airport taxi surcharges should really rise or not, Mr Ormsin said.