‘LOW ON TAXIS’: Calls for change as taxi drivers locked out of high Heathrow Airport rank demand

A recent call for more taxis at Heathrow Airport has reignited frustrations over the restrictive access system in place for cabbies.

A social media account associated with the Heathrow Taxi Feeder Park posted an urgent request, stating they were "low on taxis" due to high demand, urging more drivers to step in.

However, many taxi drivers were unable to respond, citing the ongoing issue of not being able to obtain the necessary 'tag' device required to access the airport’s taxi ranks.

One frustrated driver shared their experience: “I dropped off at Terminal 3 when taxis were needed, but I still can’t get a tag. I had to drive past an empty rank and a queue full of passengers.” The driver went on to say they had been waiting three years for a tag, calling the system a "closed shop".

The frustration was echoed by other drivers, with some suggesting a system similar to London’s City Airport, where drivers pay a small fee to join the rank. “It’s your passengers that suffer during busy times,” one driver noted, highlighting the impact on travellers.

Heathrow, the largest taxi hub in London, can hold up to 500 cabs at once. Yet, since 2019, the airport has implemented a 'one in, one out' policy for new drivers seeking access tags. This has left many in the industry stuck on long waiting lists, relying on existing tag holders to relinquish their permits before gaining access.

With the number of licensed cab drivers dropping from over 20,000 in 2019 to just 15,000 today, some are questioning whether the system needs reform.