Mangaluru: Taxi drivers at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) have reported a sharp drop in business after the West Asia crisis disrupted international flight services for more than 10 days, severely cutting passenger arrivals and demand for prepaid cabs.According to Airport Tourist and Taxi Drivers’ Association, about 180 prepaid taxis, including 10–15 SUVs, are registered at the airport. Drivers said their livelihoods depend almost entirely on airport operations, especially international arrivals, and the prolonged disruption has left many struggling to earn even a basic daily income.Association president Jayanth Suvarna said domestic passengers do not generate enough business for airport taxi operators, making international services crucial for their survival. He said the current period would normally have seen increased travel linked to Ramadan, but the crisis has halted that expected seasonal rise in passenger movement.Suvarna said airport taxi drivers were already under pressure even before the latest disruption, due to growing competition from app-based taxi aggregators.On regular business days, sedan taxi drivers usually get at least two to three bookings. During the disruption, that number fell to just one booking a day for many, while some received none. Walter Pereira, an airport taxi driver for two decades, said the situation over the last 10 days has been particularly difficult. He said that under normal conditions, drivers could expect multiple trips a day, but with international services affected, many taxis were left idle for long hours.Of the 180 taxis operating at the airport, around 140 managed to get at least one booking a day during the disruption. Some drivers returned home after a single trip, while others—particularly younger drivers—stayed late into the night hoping for another. Several ended the day without any booking at all, he said.Drivers said business outside the airport has also remained weak as the wedding season is yet to pick up, school and college examinations are under way, and Ramadan fasting has reduced local travel. The slowdown has increased financial strain because daily operating costs, such as fuel, maintenance, and loan repayments, remain unchanged despite the fall in bookings.At present, sedan taxi drivers charge around Rs 800 for a trip to the city, while SUV fares are about Rs 1,400 from the airport.
