Taoyuan Airport’s Yellow Cabs Just Got a 94-Level Upgrade – Personal Greeters, Card Payments, Western Travelers Call It “So Sweet!”

▲ Taoyuan Airport’s scheduled yellow cabs see major service upgrades. (Photo / Reporter Lin Shi-wen)

Reported by Liao Ming-hui / Taoyuan Airport

Many passengers traveling to and from Taoyuan Airport use public transport such as buses or the airport MRT, but for families traveling with children or elderly, taxis offer a more convenient option – especially when strollers or wheelchairs are involved. Taxis provide a direct, time-saving ride “from the airport to your doorstep.”

Additionally, passengers on red-eye flights often find no public transport available due to flight schedules and must rely on taxis. To facilitate travel and improve service, Taoyuan Airport requires all 600 legally scheduled taxis to be new vehicles under 2000cc and within five years of manufacture. Equipment has also been greatly upgraded – including card payment machines and an electronic dispatch system. By the end of this year, all drivers will wear new uniforms. To assist international travelers, service desk staff all have TOEIC scores over 500 in English, ensuring VIP-level service from disembarkation to boarding the taxi. Western travelers call it “so sweet,” and Japanese visitors say “すごい” (very impressive).

▲ Wheelchair users can reserve accessible taxis at Taoyuan Airport for priority boarding. (Photo / Provided by Taoyuan Airport)

To maintain the image of the national gateway, ensure passenger safety, and keep traffic flowing smoothly, hailing a taxi on the spot at Taoyuan Airport is not allowed. Instead, services are provided by a dedicated fleet of legally scheduled taxis. The scheduled taxi service operates under a three-year contract with Taoyuan Airport. The Aviation Police Bureau publicly accepts applications and selects 600 drivers through a “fair, just, and open” lottery process to provide round-the-clock service for three years, 365 days a year. Including peripheral support fleets, the total number of dispatchable vehicles reaches up to 1000. In the past, Taoyuan Airport taxis were managed by the Aviation Police Bureau. After January 25, 2017, the law was officially revised to transfer management of scheduled taxis to Taoyuan Airport, facilitating faster institutional reforms. For example, the monthly operational service fee paid by drivers increased from NT$800 to NT$4000, with all funds used to upgrade both hardware and software – including service desks, driver lounges, scheduled taxi lots, passenger waiting areas, the electronic dispatch system, uniform production, and other enhancements.

Safety first: Scheduled airport taxis must be under 4 years old with engines over 1900cc

Safety comes first when traveling. Scheduled airport taxis must maintain vehicles under four years old with engines over 1900cc throughout their three-year service period. For example, if a vehicle is three years old in its first year of service, it must be replaced by the second year. This high standard ensures that vehicle parts and conditions remain optimal. Drivers explain, “The 1900cc engine requirement ensures ride comfort and load capacity – especially since returning travelers often carry lots of souvenirs. The engine needs enough power for safe carrying and hill-climbing.”

▲ New cars + new uniforms = super stylish. Taoyuan Airport’s scheduled taxi drivers have donned new uniforms – light blue long-sleeve shirts with ties and dress pants, giving off a fresh, energetic, and ultra-handsome first impression. Their style quotient is off the charts. (Photo / Reporter Liao Ming-hui, same below)

All 600 Taoyuan Airport scheduled taxis now equipped with card payment machines

Considering that foreign travelers often don’t carry cash, all 600 scheduled taxis at Taoyuan Airport have installed card payment machines. In the past, many international passengers had to exchange money at airport banks or withdraw cash from ATMs before taking a taxi – a real inconvenience. With the new card readers, that hassle is completely gone. Very thoughtful.

▲ All 600 Taoyuan Airport scheduled taxis now have card payment machines and accept electronic payments – no need to pay in cash. Cards accepted include MasterCard, JCB, VISA, and UnionPay, with more electronic payment options coming soon.

Major leap forward for Taoyuan Airport taxi service: Electronic dispatch system introduced

In the past, Taoyuan Airport’s scheduled taxis were dispatched based on drivers’ arrival order at the lot, with on-site staff assigning vehicles manually. While these dedicated personnel did their best to meet traveler needs, human judgment was less precise and took more time. When passenger volume surged unexpectedly, delays and long waits for taxis often occurred. To fix this, starting September 1, 2017, Taoyuan Airport’s scheduled taxis officially adopted an electronic dispatch system. Each taxi is equipped with an electronic tablet device. Upon entering or leaving the parking lot, eTags are scanned for check-in. The number of vacant taxis and dispatch priority are automatically calculated via database, ensuring fair dispatch. More importantly, vehicle types and passenger-specific features (like pet-friendliness, smoking/non-smoking, accessibility) are stored in the big data system to pre-match suitable vehicles for travelers. Of course, all insurance and license info are also recorded to ensure passenger safety. (Passenger liability insurance has been raised from NT$2.5 million to NT$5 million.)

Taoyuan Airport’s scheduled taxis operate 24/7, 365 days a year. Even during typhoons or late-night hours when other public transport stops running, the scheduled taxis continue to serve until the very end to transport domestic and international travelers. In the past, emergency dispatches required one-by-one calls to external partner fleets, which was slow and inefficient. Now, with the electronic dispatch system, GPS positioning allows for quick dispatch of the 1000-vehicle support fleet, ensuring all passengers can get home safely.

▲ Every taxi is equipped with a tablet device. With the new electronic dispatch system, vehicle types and passenger-friendly features – such as pet-friendliness, smoking/non-smoking, accessibility – are stored in the database to pre-match suitable vehicles for travelers.

Professional service staff, TOEIC 500+ English proficiency

Beyond the high-end taxi hardware that gives a VIP feel, service has also been significantly improved. For example, passenger services are now handled by a professional service company. In the past, drivers themselves managed passenger reception and dispatch, but when flights were delayed and passenger numbers surged, they were stretched too thin trying to do both. Additionally, older drivers might handle Japanese tourists well, but often struggled with English when dealing with Western travelers. To optimize service quality and ensure all travelers feel welcome at the national gateway, starting in 2017, professional service companies took over all passenger reception and administrative tasks. From the airport hall counters (T1, T2) to the taxi boarding areas, uniformly dressed professionals assist travelers. Staff are required to have TOEIC scores over 500 in English and receive regular training in etiquette, service SOPs, language skills, and crisis management – guaranteeing a high-quality national gateway experience for every passenger.

▲ % Technicians note: Passengers can identify legitimate taxis by the professional uniforms and service procedures, from the professional service company staff at the T1 and T2 counters to those at the taxi boarding points.

% How to tell if it’s a legal scheduled taxi? Check the driver’s ID, the taxi’s logo, and number.

(Taoyuan Airport advertisement)