In the one month between that day and Feb 9, SMRT arranged an average of 241 trips a day for limousine taxi drivers.

For the month, the figure was 7,230 trips - 60 per cent lower than the 18,152 bookings ComfortDelGro processed in January last year.

SMRT's figure was even lower than the 8,153 trips and 8,130 trips which ComfortDelGro handled in the relatively slow months of last October and November, respectively.

But SMRT is sticking to its revamped fare structure. Under this, limousine taxi passengers pay the metered fare, which starts at a $3.20 flagdown rate for regular limousines, and $5 for a ride in the larger Chrysler 300c.

On top of the metered fare, passengers pay an extra $16 (or an extra $20 for the Chrysler 300c cab), as well as other fees such as the peak-hour surcharge and Electronic Road Pricing charges.

When ComfortDelGro was in charge, all passengers paid a flat rate of $45 for a limousine taxi ride from the airport.

SMRT, standing its ground on its fare structure, said it considered itself as having done well, despite flights having been cancelled and the overall economic decline. Its spokesman explained that a flat fare deters passengers who take short trips, and that going by the meter plus surcharges makes it fairer for them.

The metered fare plus the surcharge also means they earn more for long distances, the spokesman said.

But limousine cabbies tell a different story.

Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times.