Sydney Airport taxi rip-off revealed as Transport Minister refuses to confirm recommended fare cap

Sydney Airport travellers are still being ripped off by taxi drivers, a Saturday Telegraph spot check has revealed, prompting calls to act on sweeping recommendations – including a fare cap.

Sydney Airport travellers are still being ripped off by taxi drivers six months after The Saturday Telegraph revealed a $40 difference from driver to driver, prompting calls for the Minns government to act on sweeping reforms to the sector.

It comes after the state’s independent pricing regulator IPART this week released a report detailing seven recommendations for regulating taxi fares, including trialling a $60 cap on trips from the airport to the Sydney CBD, and an $80 limit on maxi taxis from July 1.

A spot check by The Telegraph this week revealed a $33 gap between fares from the airport to Surry Hills, with taxis charging nearly twice the price quoted for an Uber.

Over three journeys departing from the same cab rank with the same destinations, all started before 3pm on a weekday, reporters were charged as little as $45.15 and as much as $78.75.

M.A Cabs provided the cheapest service, while SYD CABS’ Sydney Business and GM Signature charged fares above IPART’s recommended $60 maximum.

Meanwhile, Uber estimated the same journey would cost $37 in one of its basic UberX four-passenger vehicles.

SYD CABS manager Muhummad Shakir said the final price included an airport toll, wait time and a 5 per cent credit card surcharge.

Mr Shakir agreed with the IPART recommendations in principle, but said more needed to be done to protect both customers and drivers, who were queuing at airport ranks for hours waiting for customers.

“I want to make this industry clean,” he said.

“We want to make the industry good for everyone. Who’s going to work three hours for $25?”

NSW Taxi Council CEO Nick Abrahim said the organisation had “zero tolerance” for drivers who overcharged, but noted the “significant gap in operating expenses” between taxi services and Ubers.

NSW Taxi Council CEO Nick Abrahim in Marrickville. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

While an Uber could expect to pay between $600 and $700 for comprehensive insurance cover, he said, for taxi operators the combined cost of CTP, registration and workers compensation could exceed $5000 per vehicle.

The airport-to-city cap, Mr Abrahim added, was a “welcome approach that we will look to adopt” and needed to be enacted “as soon as possible”, with a view to expanding capped fares into other key locations across Sydney.

“It’s really important that we put this in place urgently, and not just keep talking about it,” he said.

“The point is that this is a trial, and should it be successful … we will get to roll it out across other trips – including the ride to the airport too.”

Telegraph staff caught multiple cabs from Sydney Airport to Surry Hills mid-week.

Estimated fares through Uber for the same trip were around $37.

Transport Minister John Graham said he was “very concerned” about airport taxi fares, but did not confirm whether the recommended $60 cap would be implemented, or when.

“I’m very concerned about the cost of getting a taxi from the airport to the city, that’s why the government asked IPART to conduct the review, with particular emphasis on making taxi rides from Sydney Airport to the Sydney CBD uniform and fair,” he said.

“We are now considering these recommendations with the lens of the current cost-of-living challenges, and the need for the system to work better for passengers.”

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman questioned the delay, especially when other cities, such as New York, have been capping airport cab fares for years.

“We’re a global city – either the minister backs the IPART recommendation or keeps letting travellers pay open-ended, expensive fares the moment they walk out of the arrivals hall,” he said.

- with Tyson Jackson, Jack Crawley and Rory Williams

Originally published as Sydney Airport taxi rip-off revealed as Transport Minister refuses to confirm recommended fare cap