People buy taxi vouchers at Riga airport, but not too many, Laila Odiņa, chairwoman of the Riga airport board, told LETA.
“Last week we sold only four vouchers, but twelve were bought in the first weeks. It’s not that this product is not interesting, but I think it needs to be developed and advertised more,” said Odiņa.
She added that soon the international passenger carrier “Lux Express” will start commercial transportation between Riga Airport and the city center, where the price will be lower compared to taxi prices.
Commenting on the price of the voucher, which is 33.5 euros, Odiņa emphasized that the price of the voucher is not determined by Riga Airport. “The airport sells a voucher for the price at which taxis are ready to transport passengers.
“Maybe something will change in the future and carriers will decide on a different price, but the airport only sells vouchers,” Odiņa said.
It has already been reported that the sale of taxi vouchers for trips from the airport to the city center and Pārdaugava started on April 11 this year at the Riga Airport Visitor Center.
Passengers can use pre-purchased vouchers in the taxis of the carriers that have received special license cards for work in the airport territory – “XTaxi” and “TaksiLV”. These taxis are located in the first line at the exits of the arrivals terminal.
On the other hand, the area of operation of the vouchers roughly includes the territory between Krišjāņas Valdemāras, Skanstes, Lāčplēša and Valmieras streets to Tallinas street in the center of Riga, as well as the territory from Kārļas Ulmaņas gatve to Kurzemes prospect in Pārdaugava.
The airport previously stated that it is not possible to use the vouchers in vehicles of other brands or other carriers.
Passengers who do not want to use vouchers for trips from the airport will still be able to pay for the trip according to the time and distance tariffs set by each taxi carrier, choose public transport, shared car service or leave the airport with their own car or a pick-up car.
It has already been announced that on March 27 this year, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Road Transport Law in the final reading, which will determine the maximum fare for a taxi ride from the airport or other transport infrastructure facility of international importance and will introduce prepayment options for the trip.
The amendments aim to prevent defrauding of passengers in cases where dishonest taxi service providers demand disproportionately high fees.
Prepayment for the trip can be made online or in person at the airport. In order to work in the special zone at the airport, the carrier must provide the customer with the opportunity to pay in the taxi with a pre-purchased travel voucher. The tariff ceiling and operating zones, as well as the maximum additional charge for the trip, will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Riga Airport is the largest air traffic hub in the Baltic States.
