Oman transport: Cheaper airport taxi fares hailed

Residents and tourists could soon enjoy cheaper taxi fares after a new airport cab service launches later this year.
Airport taxis in Oman are currently among the most expensive in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with rates starting from OMR6 while in other GCC countries fares start from just OMR3 – less than half the price.

From October, Mwasalat, the national transport provider, will start operating a taxi service from Muscat International Airport, and the company CEO says their fares will be the same as other GCC countries – which means travellers could enjoy much cheaper journeys to and from the airport.
 

The company says it is also in talks to operate a fleet of 300 wifi enabled taxis.

Ahmed Albulushi, CEO, Mwasalat, said: “The fares will change and will be within the same range as other GCC countries.”

“Currently, we are in dialogue with several agencies and the taxi drivers’ representatives to reach an agreement regarding the airport taxi fares and our expectations are that the fares will reduce.

“We are looking at reducing the cost to passengers and in the next three to four weeks we will be able to announce our new fare structures,” a Mwasalat spokesman told Times of Oman.

“We are developing our own technology platform (reservation and dispatch system for drivers and passengers) which is due to be delivered in September and hoping to launch our services in October. But that will depend on how quickly we can install equipment and train the drivers. 

“These taxis will have all the features of modern taxis and customers will have access to meet their needs.”

Asked whether these taxis will have free wifi, he said: “This topic is under discussion with suppliers such as Omantel. Currently, wifi is installed in our buses and we are in process of installing wifi in our coach network and in buses, so this will be natural extension for our taxis.”

Airport taxi drivers confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with Mwasalat and other government bodies regarding the Mwasalat launch. “Things will be clear after the Eid holidays,” one said.

Citizens and residents are, however, very happy. “Currently, the airport taxi fares are too much and people think twice before using them. So it is a great idea to bring them down,” Kabir, an Indian expat living in Oman, said.

Pakistani expat, B Khan, said: “It will help people who don’t have a licence and people going on long holidays as it is expensive to park your car for a long time at the airport.”

Omani national Abdullah al Harthy said: “It is good that they brought the initial price down but the rate per kilometer should reduce too as 200 baisas per kilometer is still very high.”

According to the UBS Prices and Earnings 2015 report, the Norwegian capital of Oslo has the most expensive taxi fares in the world, where a five-kilometer ride will cost $32 (OMR13.2).

Oslo is closely followed by Zurich ($27.59), Luxembourg ($22.34), Geneva ($20.58), Auckland ($19.72), Stockholm ($18.56), Montreal ($17.57), Milan ($17.3) and Amsterdam ($16.22).

Among the Gulf countries, Dubai and Doha are included in the UBS Prices and Earnings 2015 report. In Dubai, the airport taxi rates start from $6.26 (OMR2.4), while in Doha the rates start from $3.66 (OMR1.4).

The report also indicated that taxi fares charged at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport in India are the cheapest in the world, with fares starting at $1.54, followed by Kiev ($1.59), Bogota ($1.71), Mumbai ($1.81) and Bangkok ($1.81).

The report included prices for a five-km ride during the day within city limits, including a service tip.