News reports in Thailand warn of a reduction of taxi services from Bangkok’s two major airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, as a fuel shortage is creating problems for motorists in the country.
Ever since the war in Iran began and the supply of crude oil from the Middle East became an issue, gas stations Thailand started to put a cap on the maximum amount of fuel you can buy and some close early.
Apparently, this has now reached a significant crossroad as official taxis and Bolt/Grab drivers are afraid they can’t get enough gas to get back home, resulting in drivers not going very far or late in the evening anymore according to various news reports.
The Nation is reporting that Suvarnabhumi Airport taxis begin stopping services amid fuel shortage, which isn’t a good sign for international and domestic travelers.
Taxis at Suvarnabhumi Airport, especially larger SUVs and vans, are beginning to suspend services due to a fuel shortage, not high prices.
Drivers are avoiding long-distance trips and adjusting service hours because they fear running out of fuel mid-journey and being unable to find a refill.
The Suvarnabhumi Taxi Coordination Association reports that the number of active taxis has already been reduced and is calling for government intervention to address the fuel availability issue.
Pallop Chayinthu, president of the Suvarnabhumi Taxi Coordination Association, said on Thursday (March 19) that taxis operating at Suvarnabhumi Airport, particularly large SUV and van-type taxis, had gradually begun suspending services because they were unable to obtain fuel, especially in cases where passengers requested long-distance trips.
Drivers feared they could run out of fuel mid-journey and be unable to refill, which could reduce the number of taxis available at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
At present, around 5,000-6,000 taxis at the airport are members of the association, but only 2,500 are actually in service.
The fuel shortage has already led some members to stop operating.
Those who still need to operate may have to reduce or adjust their service hours, such as working only in the morning, because fuel is harder to obtain in the evening.
They may also choose to serve only short-distance routes for fear of running out of fuel and being unable to refill.
At present, taxis are being affected not by high fuel prices but by fuel shortages and the inability to obtain refills. …
I’m a bit confused as to why this affects regular taxis, as those usually aren’t running on gasoline but NGV/LPG for many years already. Is that running low as well?
My sister arrived at BKK Airport this evening around 7 pm, and while there were longer lines, they had no problem getting a taxi. But with many gas stations in the Bangkok Metropolitan are now closing around 10 pm I wonder how this will look like for late arrivals?
The airport train is operating until midnight, and you can get off at various stations in the city, such as Ramkhamhaeng, Makkasan, or Phayathai. At Phayathai station, there is also an interlink with the BTS line.
Conclusion
Thailand is currently experiencing a fuel shortage, which is showing itself in several different ways, you can only buy limited quantities of fuel, but gas stations also close down very early or shut down altogether due to the government-mandated price cap.
I have seen gas stations that cap gas at 500 Baht per fill, and taking away fuel in gas cans is not permitted, even for construction crews to run machinery. Crazy times!
You’ll also run into trouble with this when you attempt to drive longer distances, such as from Bangkok to Hua Hin, Pattaya, Jomtien, or Rayong. I’m interested in how these taxi services are dealing with these issues. I have a reservation to stay in Hua Hin for a few days at the end of May, let’s see if this will all be resolved by then.
