Associated Taxi to be the exclusive Airport Taxi

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Associated has terrible cabs (worst in the city goes to Red Top)...back when I still used them a couple years ago most I've been in didn't have digital terminals to process credit cards.

Seriously WTF is going on with the airport authority lately? 1st the whole issue of closing off Barlow access building an unnecessary 2nd runway without a tunnel, and now sole sourcing cabs?

Do you think the Airport Authority is doing this to altruistically increase the amounts of cabs elsewhere in the city (and not waiting at the airport)? Hell no. They get an extra exclusivity fee from Associated - that's the real driver behind this move.

All this to fund their campaign to build structures and runways....someone needs to remind them that transportation to and from the airport for passengers is just as important as landing slots and parking stalls....

[SebC]

I don't see how it's fair that other companies will still be going to the airport and unable to take someone back. Seems like unnecessary medling in the economy to me.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Seriously WTF is going on with the airport authority lately? 1st the whole issue of closing off Barlow access building an unnecessary 2nd runway without a tunnel, and now sole sourcing cabs?

Really? Perhaps you should talk to some Air Traffic Controllers that work YYC arrivals and departures and get the real scoop. This runway was needed a decade ago. Or talk to pilots flying in and out of YYC on a daily basis.

We are the 3rd busiest airport in the country (sometimes 4th depending on Montreal) and the only ones that operate intersecting runway operations. It's a matter of safety, and efficiency that the parallel 34/16 will allow better ops into and out of YYC.

Right now airliners and all aircraft are constantly dealing with holds, speed restrictions, and flow control into Calgary. The airport authority is not building this runway as a vanity project, it is a crucial piece of infrastructure needed to ensure we keep our competitive edge going forward against the likes of Edmonton and even Vancouver.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

What are the chances that a cab ride to the airport will get cheaper?

Zero. In fact, likely just got more expensive if the hack can find a way to charge it...and I dont blame them one iota.

So you drive a person from say...Midnapore....to the YYC, and that takes an easy 30+ minutes at times...now, you cant have a return trip anywhere close by unless you are Associated? Awful and really poor fiscally decision. Wonder who got their palms greased on this one?

[Vulcan]

All that will happen is that the cars and drivers currently working the Airport will paint their cars white and pay Associated the weekly fees instead of Yellow or Checker or whomever. Of course Associated will raise the fees the cabbies have to pay to the company too, so the little guy will get squeezed a little more.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Seriously WTF is going on with the airport authority lately? 1st the whole issue of closing off Barlow access building an unnecessary 2nd runway without a tunnel, and now sole sourcing cabs?

It isn't the airport authority's responsibility to build roads within the city of Calgary, that is the City of Calgary's responsibility. And if I remember corrected didn't the city decide that the best option was a tunnel?

[Ford Prefect]

Monopoly = bad. That's all.

[GGG]

I was taking a cab home from the airport yesterday and the cabby was complaining about this deal. He said that the average wait between dropping off a fare and picking one up was over 2hrs but they still were the most profitable trip despite the wait time.

Really this is the airports way of getting more money out of Cab companies and drivers without charging the consumer. If I was an associated driver I would be mad to because you know the rent and the number of associated cabs will be going up.

The guy who owns associated and the Airport Authority make out really good, nothing changes for the consumer, and all cabbies make less money,

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

It isn't the airport authority's responsibility to build roads within the city of Calgary, that is the City of Calgary's responsibility. And if I remember corrected didn't the city decide that the best option was a tunnel?

they city supported the plan for the tunnel on the condition of federal and provincial funding, since the airport was unable to secure those they city pulled their support.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

It isn't the airport authority's responsibility to build roads within the city of Calgary, that is the City of Calgary's responsibility. And if I remember corrected didn't the city decide that the best option was a tunnel?

That is the only option other than to do nothing.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Zero. In fact, likely just got more expensive if the hack can find a way to charge it...and I dont blame them one iota.

So you drive a person from say...Midnapore....to the YYC, and that takes an easy 30+ minutes at times...now, you cant have a return trip anywhere close by unless you are Associated? Awful and really poor fiscally decision. Wonder who got their palms greased on this one?

You would have to call a different cab company to pick you up from the airport. Otherwise, Associated.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

It isn't the airport authority's responsibility to build roads within the city of Calgary, that is the City of Calgary's responsibility. And if I remember corrected didn't the city decide that the best option was a tunnel?

That is true - it's the City's responsibility and the tunnel was indeed the preferred option. That said, it is absolutely piss poor judgement that the Airport Authority proceed with a 2nd runway without addressing the issue of airport access simultaneously.

Initial negotiations from funding failed with the Feds and Special Ed. Here's what'll happen.

1) Airport shuts down Barlow in 2011. Traffic snarls up on Deerfoot and Country Hills as it's hardly free flowing as it is during peak hours.
2) Citizens who didn't give two whits about this a few months ago suddenly realize that Deerfoot is even more crowded. Lots of missed flights. Citizenry get mad.
3) Mad Citizens start howling. It's probably about 2012 by now.
4) City / Province, worried about voter outrage, capitulate and build tunnel or some other access from the north down to the airport. Incremental costs are $600M higher than if a tunnel had just been built prior to air ops commencing. Taxpayers fund extras. It's probably about 2017 by now.

Maybe thats how the game is played with government, but it sure would save the citizens of Calgary (and businesses of the NE) a lot of grief had airport access been a condition of any new runway at YYC. Make a toll, add to the AIF, have an extra surcharge on parking - just do it right from the start.

The jurisdictions don't allow for this but the City should have been able deny Airport development until the roads issue was resolved.

Hmm build first worry about access later....that sounds like the tactics used by T'suu Tina for the Grey Eagles Casino...? As I said, maybe this is how you force the hand of government into doing things...



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Back on Topic - I believe that non Associated cabs can still pick up people if it's pre-arranged, they just can't wait in the bullpen. If I'm Checker, I can partially combat this by setting up an airport hotline passengers call on their cell. Have cabs wait in an offsite location that's close and have then zoom into the airport to meet up passengers. That is, if they're not stuck on Deerfoot because Barlow's been closed...

[mykalberta]

It could have be resolved - by building the tunnel. Its been in YYC plans for over 5 years. The city had more than enough time to budget if it saw the need - why would the airport delay its plans and rely on a city that may never build it.

Its the citys fault in the first place in putting so much importance on Barlow trail when they knew full well the airport owned that land and planned to do something with it eventually. An international runway helps all of Southern Alberta and only hinders those that are in the NE. Its the people in the NE who should be pissed, and the way they get their revenge is by voting out all the NE alderman that didnt push for this tunnel like the one guy did.

The tunnel doesnt benefit the airport in anyway other than making it more convienient for passengers coming from the NE. No tunnel helps the airport in taxi fees, increased airport hotel useage, increased useage of its commercial real estate it owns near the airport etc etc etc.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Initial negotiations from funding failed with the Feds and Special Ed. Here's what'll happen.

[Bigtime]

The parallel runway has been on the books since the early 80's, the city has had more than enough time to plan for this.

[RedHot25]

As someone mentioned earlier, they have this in Ottawa and it seems to work more than fine.

[mykalberta]

YOW is a little different as it is situated like YEG in Nisku/Edmonton. Calgary is unique in that its actually a convienient airport to get to because it has become immersed within the city.