Passengers struggle to find cabs at Bengaluru airport amid mounting shortage

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Passengers travelling to and from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) are increasingly finding it difficult to hire cabs, with long queues becoming a routine sight at cab aggregator pick-up zones. Many commuters say the shortage of ride-hailing vehicles has worsened over the past few months, leaving flyers waiting for extended periods after landing.

Several travellers reported that Uber and Ola pick-up points, usually bustling with activity, are now marked by uncertainty and frustration. Other app-based cab services too appear to have limited vehicles available at the airport, compounding the problem.

Meena Roy, a passenger who recently flew from Bengaluru to New Delhi, said her experience was unusually stressful. “I waited over 45 minutes to find a cab at the Ola-Uber pick-up zone. Earlier, it was not like this. We could get a cab within 10 minutes. Now, the uncertainty has made things very stressful. Most other aggregators also don’t seem to have enough cabs at the airport,” she said.

BMTC should increase airport buses

Another flyer, Prashanth N., who landed from Mumbai on Sunday at 4 p.m, said: “There were no cabs at all when I reached the pick-up zone. I waited for nearly an hour before I finally managed to get a ride. This is the situation at one of the country’s busiest airports. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation should increase the number of airport buses so people can rely on them both to reach the airport and to travel to the city from the airport,” he said.

The KIA handled 41.88 million passengers in the last financial year, making it one of India’s busiest aviation hubs. Given its considerable distance of over 35 km from the city’s Central Business District, dependable last-mile connectivity is crucial. However, frequent flyers say the reality on the ground is worsening by the day.

“The airport is already far from the city centre, and the cab situation makes it worse. The problem has escalated in the last few months. The pick-up zone queues are long, and there’s no certainty the drivers will accept the ride,” said Ravindra Kumar, a resident of Whitefield and a frequent flyer.

Cab drivers point to several reasons

Cab drivers point to several reasons behind the shortfall in vehicles at the airport, including long distances, toll charges, fuel costs, and high commissions charged by ride-hailing companies. Many say airport trips are no longer financially sustainable.

Pavan Kumar, a cab driver who has been working with app-based platforms for seven years, said: “Airport trips take a lot of time, and after paying tolls and commissions, the earnings don’t match the effort. Many drivers avoid the airport because it’s simply not worth it anymore. Unless fare structures are revised, the shortage will continue.”

Multiple cab aggregators were contacted for their response, but they did not respond.