Taxi companies plan tariff rises and reductions

As the excise duties on gasoline and diesel oil increased by 50%, a number of taxi companies working in Chisinau intend to raise the tariffs by up to 25% per kilometer. However, some of the taxi companies plan reductions, Info-Prim Neo reports. “We have not yet increased the tariffs on taxi services, but we intend to raise them,” Elena Pervanciuc, the manager of a taxi company, told Info-Prim Neo. The company plans to increase the tariff from 2 lei to 2.50-2.60 lei per kilometer as the excises duties on gasoline and diesel oil were raised, but the economic crisis did not push prices up. “In a period of crisis, we try to maintain the prices and the number of clients,” said the manager. Other companies resort to reductions in charges in order to keep the clients. “As a result of the economic crisis, the number of our company's clients decreased and we cannot raise the tariffs. On the contrary, we plan to reduce the price per kilometer and attract more clients,” said Vitalie Mocan, the manager of another taxi company. The company prepares two offers, but the manager refused to reveal them. “I can only say that the prices of our services will be decreased significantly.” The economic crisis and the higher excise duties on gasoline and diesel oil make the taxi business unprofitable. “I'm a novice in this business, but I realized it is not very profitable. There are days when a taxi receives no calls and the profit at the end of the day is nil,” said Ion Gandrabura, the head of a taxi company. According to Ion Gandrabura, the competition on the taxi services market is stiff. “There are many taxi companies and private individuals who provide taxi services and all of them want to be the first. I expect the taxi business will not yield profit this year.” The Chisinau residents now pay about 2.50-3 lei per kilometer of trip by taxi. “I prefer to pay 3 lei for a trip by minibus or 2 lei for a trip by trolleybus. Even if they do not take you up to your home, these means of transport are cheaper,” said Daniela Morari, a passerby. The new excise duties on gasoline and diesel oil took effect on January 19. Consequently, the prices of the oil products for end users rose by 7%. The filling stations increased the prices of gasoline and diesel oil by about 0.8 lei. Compared with January last year, the gasoline grew dearer by about 3.70 lei, while the diesel oil by approximately 1.40 lei.