HEAVTHROW TAXI BROOMING

In a revealing insight into the challenges faced by airport taxi drivers, Suzanne Sullivan, the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association's (LTDA) Airport Representative, has raised concerns over the increasing number of drivers at Heathrow refusing fares due to passengers having 'too much luggage'. This issue has thrown the spotlight on the need for greater consistency and control at airport taxi ranks.

Sullivan pointed out the procedural grey area where drivers, before accepting a job, are NOT supposed to know the destination, a rule that is often flouted. This has led to situations where drivers selectively refuse fares based on the drop-off location or the perceived inconvenience of the job.

The inconsistency in handling these refusals has seen some drivers being removed from the rank for not accepting a job when their vehicle clearly could not accommodate it. Conversely, others have been known to question passengers directly about their destination before deciding whether to take the fare.

A particular challenge noted involves drivers of larger Mercedes Vito black cabs who often end up with less desirable jobs when other drivers refuse fares on the basis of luggage or destination. Sullivan, herself a taxi driver, recounted witnessing and experiencing firsthand the dynamics of job allocation and refusal at Heathrow's Terminal 5, highlighting a specific instance where she had to refuse a fare due to excessive luggage.

The LTDA representative stressed the need for agents to firmly control the rank to prevent drivers from refusing jobs based on destination knowledge. Additionally, she highlighted the challenges in maintaining consistency due to the high turnover of agents and the limitations of training provided by Apcoa, the company responsible for managing airport taxi services.