Phuket International Airport will allow passengers to call Grab taxis via ride-hailing apps starting Friday, with more smartphone-based taxi services being considered.

The director of Phuket International Airport said the move will provide more choices for passengers. He said four ride-hailing apps have applied to operate at the airport -- Grab, Asia Cab, Hello Phuket and Air Asia.

During the first phase, only Grab was given permission to operate its service for passengers at the airport. and the other ride-hailing apps are in the consideration process.

Every taxi vehicle operated under the ride-hailing apps must have a global positioning system (GPS) and a lost-and-found system to guarantee the safety of passengers and their belongings.

The airport will have a designated area for passengers who call taxis using an app that will not be far from the passenger terminal.

The director of Airports of Thailand said Phuket airport has long been troubled by illegal taxis and taxi mafias.

Taxis from ride-hailing apps will also not charge additional fees. Drivers can only enter the airport once their arriving passenger gives them a call. Taxi drivers who are called to drop off departing passengers are not allowed to linger at the airport parking spots to collect new passengers, the AoT director said.