The 12% immediate reconsideration of its proposal for a weighted average adjustment of taxi fares is being requested from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis by the Panhellenic Federation of Professional Owners of Taxi and For-Hire Cars (POEIATA), citing the significant increase in the sector’s operating costs.
In its letter to the prime minister, copied to the media, the Federation argues that the recent adjustment of fixed prices to and from the airports of Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as the small increase in waiting time, do not address the sustainability problems of taxis in the rest of the country.
At the same time, it points out that taxi owners who transport students daily remain trapped in contracts that do not correspond to today’s fuel and operating costs.
POEIATA requests the personal intervention of the prime minister and dialogue with the competent ministry, in order to find a balance between the sustainability of professionals and the protection of the passenger public.
The full text of the letter follows:
“To the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Notification: Media
Subject: "Necessary adjustment of taxi fares due to the increase in operating costs".
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
With this letter, the Panhellenic Federation of Professional Owners of Taxi and For-Hire Cars (POEIATA), representing thousands of professional drivers throughout the country, wishes to bring to your attention an issue of particular importance for the sustainability of the sector and the continuation of the provision of reliable and safe services to the passenger public.
The taxi sector is faced with a continuous and significant increase in operating costs. The burden primarily concerns fuel costs, but extends to almost all necessary expenses for the operation of a taxi, such as spare parts, tires, lubricants, maintenance and vehicle repairs, insurance, as well as the more general cost of maintaining and operating vehicles.
Also, a very large percentage of taxi owners who transport students daily have remained trapped in contracts that are not in line with today’s reality of high fuel prices and their expenses.
In this context, POEIATA has already submitted to the competent ministry its proposal for a weighted average fare adjustment of around 12%, and instead received a specific adjustment that concerns only the correction of fixed prices to and from the airport for Athens and Thessaloniki and a small increase in taxi waiting time, something that affects only the 2 cities to a very small extent and does not correct the sustainability problem faced by all other taxis throughout the territory.
We fully understand that Greek society continues to face significant inflationary pressures and that any change in service prices affects directly the disposable income of households. For this reason, our position is not a demand that ignores the reality experienced by the passenger public.
On the contrary, we believe that a measured and balanced intervention is required, one that will take into account both the sustainability of taxi professionals and the ability of citizens to continue using the service.
At the same time, maintaining a sustainable taxi sector has broader social significance. The taxi is a basic means of transport for millions of citizens, especially for the elderly, people with disabilities, families, visitors to the country, but also for those who do not have a private vehicle or are not adequately served by public transport.
The State therefore has every reason to ensure that the profession remains economically viable, so that it can continue to provide services with safety, professionalism and dignity.
For these reasons, we request your personal intervention so that our proposal for a real adjustment of taxi fares throughout the country may be immediately reconsidered, in cooperation with the competent Ministry of Transport.
The Panhellenic Taxi Federation also declares its intention to participate in a substantive dialogue with the State, so that any adjustment may be carried out in a documented, socially responsible manner and taking into account the particular conditions prevailing in the Greek economy.
We believe that you can and must find the appropriate balance between the sustainability of the professionals in the sector and the protection of the passenger public”.