Jaw-dropping increase in taxi fares: Surpasses airline ticket prices

Taxi fares in Istanbul have pushed transportation costs to record levels. With successive price hikes, taxi journeys within the city, especially to the airport, have become more expensive than traveling abroad by plane.

According to a report by Türkiye Gazetesi, a passenger wishing to travel by taxi from Istanbul Airport to Beylikdüzü has to pay approximately 1,900 TL. However, an airline ticket from Istanbul to Düsseldorf, Germany, can be found for 1,500 TL on the same day.

Similarly, airline tickets can be purchased for 900 TL to Cyprus, 1,035 TL to Antalya, 700 TL to Izmir, and 750 TL to Ankara.

Despite recent reductions in fuel prices, the high increases in taxi fares are leaving passengers who cannot choose public transport or do not have access to alternative transportation options in a difficult situation.

HIGH INCREASE IN TAXI FARES

Short-distance fare: 135 TL

Taxi meter opening fee: 42 TL

Fare per kilometer: 28 TL

With the decision taken by UKOME in January, public transport fares were also increased by 35 percent. However, the increase in taxi fares has most affected those traveling short and long distances within the city.