Executives at the Nassau Airport Development (NAD) Company are reportedly looking to implement exit fees for all ground transportation operators located at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). NAD officials told Guardian Business that they have had several discussions with industry stakeholders over the past few months, but emphasized that the fees are still very much in its negotiation stage. Anthony McKinney, chairman of NAD also confirmed that while no decision has been made on the matter, the proposed fees would not be unique, as he pointed that most airports have transportation-related fees of this nature.
"NAD has held discussions with various ground transportation operators that utilize the airport. Discussions are ongoing and they have made some proposals to them. Those proposals have not yet been finalized. Only after discussions are completed and the matter is finalized through the board will be there be any further announcement on that matter," he shared. "In most airports around the world, there are fees associated for persons who are using the airport's facilities or persons that are providing services in and out of the airport.
So it's not unusual in that regard." If implemented, Guardian Business has learned that all ground transportation operators will be charged fees. Taxis will incur an $1 charge, while limousine, town cars and sport-utility vehicles must pay $5. Vans with up to 16 passengers must come up with $10 and busses with 17 passengers or more would be charged $15. While such fees might be common at other airports in the world, their implementation will likely raise eyebrows in the transportation industry.
The additional cost must either come out of workers' salaries or must be passed on to consumers. Fees for ground transportation would be yet another method whereby NAD generates revenue at LPIA. The $409 million redevelopment, the largest public/private infrastructure project in the history of The Bahamas, has not cost the government a dime. NAD management of LPIA for many years to come, and the proliferation of restaurants, shops, advertising, landing fees and other charges are integral to the long-term business plan.
Leon Griffin, president of the Bahamas Taxicab Union, is welcoming the proposed fees, calling the changes modest and beneficial. "With this new system in place, we feel that it's going to work and be perfect for our operation. Our union has no difficulty with NAD charging us $1 per person coming out of the system to pick up somebody," Griffin said. "The system that they are putting in place is for our use and it's going to help us.
We know that this system is expensive and someone has got to pay for it. "While, ideally the union wouldn't want its membership to pay anything, they are giving us a state-of-the-art area. I feel the fee is satisfactory and I don't see it as an issue." This comes merely weeks before stage two of LPIA's expansion, the 226,000-square foot International Arrivals terminal, is set to open on October 16.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
