Traffic jam, taxi drivers are reluctant to enter the airport, making passengers wait in vain

Although there has not been a sudden increase in passengers during Tet, catching taxis and ride-hailing cars at Tan Son Nhat Airport is showing signs of difficulty. Drivers complain about traffic jams and the difficulty of returning to the airport. Catching a car has become a tiring journey for passengers.

Passengers queue up for taxis at noon on January 12 - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Passengers have trouble waiting for the bus

Tuoi Tre Online recorded that at noon on January 12, at the domestic terminal of Tan Son Nhat airport, flights were landing continuously, and people were pouring into the taxi and technology car lanes. The demand for transportation increased, the taxi queue at Tan Son Nhat was enough to pick up passengers, but at times there were no cars.

At lane C of the domestic terminal of Tan Son Nhat airport, Ms. Thuy had a flight from Hanoi, and was waiting for a taxi with her husband and two small children. A taxi company coordinator approached and asked warmly, "Where are you going?". Ms. Thuy replied, "Take me to Ba Huyen Thanh Quan street." Immediately, the coordinator quoted a price of 220,000 VND.

Surprised, Ms. Thuy asked why they didn't charge by the meter but instead quoted a fixed price. The coordinator explained that there was a traffic jam, it was difficult to turn back to the airport now, the driver had to wait a long time, so if they wanted a quick car, they would have this price.

Dissatisfied, Ms. Thuy decided to switch to the technology lane. Booking a car through the app, she received a quote of 150,000 VND for the same distance. Even though she had to wait nearly 20 minutes for a driver to pick her up, she still chose this option.

Many other passengers were in the same situation. Some chose to walk out of the airport to the gas station on Truong Son Street to catch a bus, although this caused a lot of inconvenience.

There were customers who waited for a long time for the car, carrying their luggage and running to Truong Son street - in front of the airport gate to book a car more easily - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Taxi driver complains about traffic jam

Mr. NT, a taxi company coordinator, shared that taxis turning around at the airport is currently a difficult problem. The distance from the airport to District 3, if the road is clear, only takes 20 minutes, but when there is a traffic jam, the time can be extended to 1 - 1.5 hours.

Picking up passengers at the airport is also difficult because drivers have to wait in long lines and comply with strict monitoring regulations such as a mandatory 15-minute rest after every 4 hours of driving.

Some taxi drivers of companies like Vinasun, Vinataxi, Mai Linh complained that they only earn a few hundred thousand a day but are fined up to tens of millions. With traffic jams and flashing traffic lights, no one dares to drive anymore.

Not only do drivers have to deal with traffic jams, they also have to deal with the pressure of the monitoring system and the additional costs of entering and exiting the airport. Not to mention, when entering the airport, drivers have to line up and move in order, not just rush in.

"The car has a monitoring device installed. Every 4 hours of operation, the driver has to rest for 15 minutes when the engine beeps. There is a traffic jam in the middle of the road, I don't know how to handle it. This kind of traffic jam is very difficult" - Mr. T. said.

Moving to the taxi waiting area within the TCP parking lot, Tuoi Tre Online talked with many drivers of Vinasun, Vinataxi, Mai Linh. Most drivers are concerned about the new fines, which make driving quite stressful. Crowded roads, long traffic jams, and driving incorrectly can result in a fine of tens of millions, making drivers nervous.

Meanwhile, the driver complained about the difficulty of picking up passengers at the airport. The passenger was worried about the difficulty of booking a car, so he opened the app to book a car while waiting to get his luggage. The driver arrived, but the passenger was still in the terminal.

Drivers who wait for a long time do not dare to cancel a trip because it affects the activity rate and can easily get their accounts locked. If they park for a long time, the dispatcher will rush them to leave. Some drivers have to "run out and then run back" to pick up passengers, each time they exit the gate, they have to pay a fee of 25,000 VND/trip.

Increase bonus policy to attract drivers to pick up passengers at the airport

Talking with taxi businesses, the companies are focusing on directing vehicles to airport and bus station areas to better meet passenger demand.

A taxi company leader confirmed that in the Tan Son Nhat airport area, the vehicles will be flexibly arranged from the parking lot on Truong Son Street to the airport quickly. Realizing which areas have high demand, the company will flexibly direct the vehicles there.

The company has instructed drivers to avoid taxi "bad habits" such as choosing passengers for short or long trips, and charging the correct fare based on the meter or on the app. Meanwhile, technology car drivers are no better. They have to wait a long time to pick up passengers, and even have their trips canceled because the passengers have not yet collected their luggage.

To encourage drivers to accept rides at the airport, Grab is implementing a reward program to encourage drivers to complete trips during the Tet holiday.

Specifically, drivers will receive VND40,000/day if they complete at least two trips between 4pm and 11:59pm, with the condition that the trip acceptance rate is over 90% and the cancellation rate is below 7%.

At noon on January 12, passengers arrived at Tan Son Nhat in large numbers, carrying a lot of luggage - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Taxi line waiting for passengers at the airport - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Due to traffic jams, it still takes a long time for taxis to return to the airport, and there are fewer cars in the parking lot - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Many customers complain that when taking a ride-hailing car, they have to wait 15-20 minutes for a driver to pick them up - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Technology cars pick up passengers at lanes D1 and D2 - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Outside, the image of a motorbike driver waiting for passengers is deserted - Photo: CONG TRUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ket-xe-tai-xe-taxi-ngai-vao-san-bay-khien-khach-mon-moi-doi-2025011213385691.htm