Premier Taxi announces new fare structure
Premier Taxis has announced its new fare structure, which will come into effect from 0001 hours on 30 December 2011.
Its flag down fare will now be between S$3.00 to S$3.90, depending on the taxi model. This is a S$0.20 to S$0.70 increase from the current rate.
Distance fares will also increase by $0.22, up from the usual S$0.20.
They also reduced their peak period surcharge from 35 per cent to 25 per cent of the metered fare. However, the peak period time frame has been extended to 6am - 9:30am from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays), and 6pm - 12 midnight from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays.
In a press statement released on Thursday, the taxi company said that it had consulted its group of hirers, including members of Premier Taxi Operators' Association, to review the emerging changes in demand for taxi services. This had led to the changes in their fare structure.
Premier Taxi added that due to inflation and higher operating costs, their drivers' incomes have been affected. They believe that with the new fare structure, drivers will experience more productive hours on the road.
Lim Chong Boon, managing director of Premier Taxis said, "We strive to keep taxi rides affordable for our commuters. On the other hand, we also have to look after our drivers to ensure that they are paid a fair wage for a fair day's work."
Earlier this week, the Public Transport Council (PTC) had received notifications from Premier Taxis, individually-owned Yellow-Top taxis, Smart Automobile and Trans-cab that they would be raising their fares, a representative from the council told Yahoo! Singapore.
The latest notifications follow fare hikes by ComfortDelgro last week, and SMRT Taxis this week. Premier and Yellow-Top submitted notices of their intentions to raise fares, while Trans-cab and Smart gave the PTC notice of their fare hikes on Monday.
Prime Taxi is now the only taxi company that has yet to submit a notification of raised fares. Its general manager Eric Ang told Yahoo! Singapore that the company is still collating feedback from its drivers about whether or not to raise its fares, and will come to a decision before the end of this week.
By PTC guidelines, taxi operators here are required to give the council a minimum advance notice of two weeks before raising their fares.
