Airport taxi drivers speak out against Dayton plan

DAYTON — Three taxi drivers who work at the Dayton International Airport spoke out at tonight’s city commission meeting against the city’s plan to select a single provider of taxi service.

About 11 off-airport taxicab companies are licensed to operate at the airport terminal, but the city has asked for bids for a company to manage and run taxi services.

Uber, the ride-sharing company, has already taken over much of the business at the airport, but this change would be a fatal blow to local companies, said Shannon Walters, a driver with Dayton Express Taxi.

Cab companies invested significant sums updating their vehicles and making other upgrades to comply with recent changes to city regulations, and it is unfair that their investments may have been wasted, speakers said.

“We still have drivers making car payments,” Walters said.

City leaders said it would be in touch with the drivers and would respond to their concerns, likely at next week’s city commission meeting.