ComfortDelGro Taxi to introduce dynamic fares in new booking service
SINGAPORE — ComfortDelGro Taxi will begin a pilot taxi booking service on 15 May which will introduce dynamic fares to its passengers.
The Singapore taxi giant said in a media release on Tuesday (7 May) that the new service, ComfortRIDE, will be available on its existing taxi booking app, and will bring together its fleet of 12,000 taxis – and possibly some private-hire vehicles, depending on demand for the service, especially during peak hours.
The service, which will only be applicable for current bookings, will see fixed fares which will adjust according to market demand and supply. Peak-demand fares will be monitored, and any surges will be limited and not exponential. The fares will conversely be lower during off peak.
Metered fare option still available
The metered fare option will still to be available to passengers alongside the new service in the booking app.
They can therefore choose between traditional option, or the new ComfortRIDE option which will despatch either a taxi or possibly a private-hire vehicle, depending on which is closer.
Pilot testing for the new service will be limited to a small group of passengers initially. Depending on the response, it may be extended to more passengers at a later date.
Meeting increasing demand
ComfortDelGro Taxi chief executive officer Ang Wei Neng said, “Our volume of booking jobs for 2018 has increased by 7.4 per cent and is still experiencing an uptick in the first four months of 2019.
“The aim of ComfortRIDE is to meet the demand especially during peak hours. With more taxis on the roads during peak hours, commuters will be confirmed a vehicle faster and their waiting time will be reduced.
“This will create demand, so our cabbies can look forward to better earning opportunities and less empty cruising.”
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