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WE TAXI drivers much appreciate the installation of two boards at the entrance to Changi Airport Terminal 1 and 2 taxi queues, to indicate the number of taxis in the queue and, most important, the estimated waiting time till a cabby will get passengers. However, there is no such board at the Terminal 3 (T3) taxi queue. I am aware that the waiting time at T3 is indicated at both Terminal 1 and 2. Can we know when the airport authority will install a board at T3.
At times, the estimated time is quite inaccurate, with errors of more than 200 per cent. I quote a few incidents below:
- On March 15 at 11.43pm, the estimated waiting time and number of taxis at T3 indicated at Terminal 1 and 2 were 1 minute and 28 taxis. I went to T3, but the number of taxis was about 100 and I took an hour to get a passenger;
- On Dec 1 last year at 6.36pm at Terminal 2, the board indicated 14 minutes but it took me 42 minutes to get a passenger; and
- On Sept 11 last year at 6.48pm at Terminal 1, I took 37 minutes instead of 12 as estimated.
The examples quoted are few because I do not go specially to the airport to pick up passengers when I am nearby, but queue there after I have taken a passenger there, if the estimated waiting time is not long. I also did I my own estimate by calling a family member to check on Teletext how many aircraft will land 30 minutes before that time.
Can the authority explain how it estimates waiting time? The two basic factors should be number of taxis in the queue and number of aircraft landing. Other factors are size of aircraft, and whether it is in transit or not.
Ng Kai Kook
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