Des Moines airport cracks down on taxi companies

The Des Moines International Airport has limited the number of cab operators to one company in an attempt to shore up a growing list of consumer complaints about taxi service at the airport.

Trans Iowa will be the sole provider of taxi service for people flying into Des Moines. Ride-share options like Uber and Lyft, which have separate contracts with the airport, will continue operating as is.

Executive Director Kevin Foley said this is the only way the airport can regulate taxi service and ensure high-quality, consistent trips for the traveling public. Having one company will allow the airport to address any issues as they arise, he said.

"We're not putting anybody out of business. They have the entire metro to operate in," he said. "All we’re trying to do is control what happens at the airport."

But other taxicab owners in Des Moines say the new contract, which takes effect Wednesday, is unfair to smaller companies trying to expand. The airport should not exclude those companies just because they have a smaller bank account, several owners told the Des Moines Airport Authority Board on Tuesday.

"When you pick the largest company in the city ... you are excluding a huge amount of minorities from ever being able to get an income through this airport," said Hassan Deer, spokesman for City Cab. "I believe there's enough market for two to three companies (to provide service at the airport), not just one large company."

Service problems at the airport arose after Des Moines deregulated the local taxi industry in December 2016, following sweeping changes in state law designed to level the playing field between taxis and app-based ride-sharing providers like Uber.

Late last year, the airport had 20 taxi operators registered to pick up passengers, up from five operators three years ago.

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The sheer volume of operators led to complaints from passengers about inconsistent fees, dirty cabs and unreliable vehicles. Some cab operators were bypassing a system that charges a $3 origination fee to cabs that enter the terminal lane, Foley said.

"This is something that we all have been hearing a lot of complaints about," said board chair Liz Ward. "Obviously, it's something we needed to find a solution for ... We will be watching it very closely."

Under the taxicab services agreement, Trans Iowa will be required to dedicate 15 cabs and 24 drivers to the airport. Trans Iowa will be asked to draw from its 80-car fleet if wait times at the airport are too long.

"Our expectation is if you get off a flight and go to the cab stand, a cab will be available," said AJ Graff, director of operations.

Every cab must be equipped with a credit card machine and cannot increase its passenger rates without airport approval. That includes a $7 base fee, plus an additional $2 per mile.

Trans Iowa estimates it will cost $16.50 to get to the Ruan Center in downtown Des Moines. That's slightly more than Uber's regular fare and slightly less than an UberXL, Graff said.

Four companies applied to be the airport's taxicab service provider. But only Trans Iowa met all of the airport's expectations, Foley said.

For example, one company only had 10 cars, while another did not provide information on its car maintenance program. Trans Iowa has its own maintenance shop and is the only company that vets its drivers' driving records and criminal records annually, he said.

The contract gives Trans Iowa 20 days to address any problems or issues with service. Otherwise, the airport can cancel its contract.

The Des Moines Airport Authority Board unanimously approved the three-year contract with Trans Iowa on Tuesday.