Police find no offence in gathering of premium taxi drivers at Changi Airport

The police have determined that a gathering of premium taxi drivers at Changi Airport on 13 February did not constitute an offence, said Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam on 4 March.

The meeting, held to address concerns over a new minibus service, was assessed as a "pre-planned dialogue" rather than a strike or protest.

In a written parliamentary response to Jurong GRC MP Xie Yao Quan, who inquired whether the police were investigating the matter, Shanmugam stated that no law-and-order issues had arisen, and the authorities would not pursue further inquiries.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat confirmed that a Woodlands Transport Service (WTS) ground manager, whose actions contributed to some taxi drivers' perception of unfair treatment, has been removed from his role.

Chee clarified that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) do not regulate the Ground Transport Concierge (GTC) operations at Changi Airport.

The GTC is a commercial arrangement between Changi Airport Group (CAG) and WTS, with no direct government oversight.

Providing further details on the events of 13 February, Chee explained that CAG has engaged WTS to manage its ground transport concierge service since 2008.

This service allows travellers to book a range of larger vehicle options, such as six- to seven-seater taxis and limousine cabs.

On 1 February, CAG and WTS introduced an eight-seater minibus service in response to increased demand for larger vehicles.

However, a WTS ground manager allowed these minibuses to park directly in front of the concierge counter, which serves as the assembly point for premium taxis and maxi-cabs.

This led to concerns that WTS was giving preferential treatment to its own minibus service. Chee clarified that CAG had not authorised this arrangement.

The Straits Times reported that dissatisfaction among premium taxi drivers escalated following the roll-out of the minibus trial, with some drivers complaining about longer wait times for passengers and income losses.

On 13 February, in response to these grievances, some drivers from ComfortDelGro and Prime Taxi decided to stop picking up passengers from Changi Airport between 9 am and midnight.

From 4 pm to 7 pm, around 50 drivers gathered at the ground transport concierge holding area to voice their concerns to CAG representatives. The National Taxi Association (NTA) was also present at the meeting.

Following discussions with the drivers, CAG decided to suspend the minibus trial immediately. A spokesperson for CAG confirmed that the suspension remains in effect.

Chee stated that CAG has strengthened its oversight of WTS operations at the concierge service to prevent similar issues in the future.

To improve communication and avoid misunderstandings, CAG will directly engage NTA and taxi drivers on any future changes to the service. This will help ensure transparency and secure their support before implementing new measures.

Chee also highlighted that the incident underscores the importance of tripartism, where disputes should be resolved through mediation rather than confrontation.

He credited the NTA and driver association leaders for stepping in to manage the situation, which helped prevent disruptions to taxi services at the airport.

According to Woodlands Transport's website, the home-grown company manages a fleet of 1,300 vehicles, including buses, coaches, and trucks.