Changes coming to airport taxis in response to COVID-19 pandemic

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Published June 25, 2020 at 2:29 pm

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Recently, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) announced that plexiglass barriers are being installed in over 600 licensed airport taxis and limos in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The GTAA says the move, which is being taken to enhance the safety of drivers and passengers, comes after close consultation with the taxi and limousine companies/owners and their drivers–particularly the Consultative Committee on Taxis and Limos (CCTL)–and all levels of government. 

“The taxi and limo companies and their drivers are an important part of the Toronto Pearson community,” said Scott Collier, Vice President, Customer and Terminal Services, GTAA, in a statement. 

“We recognize the need to continue partnering with the Consultative Committee on Taxis and Limos to promote the health and safety of their workers. We’ve been working closely with our partners to find the right solutions to keep drivers and passengers safe. These barriers are designed to separate the front and back seats of the vehicles to provide an added layer of protection.”

Last month, the Airport Taxi Association announced that 10 taxi drivers had died of COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic. Although it’s not clear whether any of the drivers contracted the virus while on the job, the president of the association–which represents about 700 drivers operating out of Pearson–said more should have been done to protect the drivers.

The GTAA says it has provided more than 6,000 gloves to taxi and limousine companies/owners and their drivers, arranged for all taxis and limos to be disinfected before each trip leaving the airport, and took measures to promote physical distancing through the installation of signage and the removal of chairs in the driver cafeteria. 

Masks have also been made available at the curbs of both terminals for passengers.

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