Phuket International Airport has defended newly installed signs barring drivers from waiting or activating ride‑hailing apps in front of the terminal, following criticism on social media that they restrict passengers’ transport options.
The airport director said on Sunday the signs were put up to help regulate public transport services within the airport area and prevent unauthorised vehicles waiting near the terminal for passengers, or offering service outside the designated zones.
Images of the signs, “Waiting or opening any application to pick up passengers in this area is not permitted”, sparked online debate over whether the airport was shutting out app‑based transport services.
The director said only authorised vehicles may operate inside designated pick‑up zones, and those already approved - metered taxis, airport limousines, public buses, car‑rental operators and licensed app‑based platforms such as Grab - continue to operate normally.
All transport providers serving the airport must pass security and background checks, register their vehicle and driver details, and comply with service standards, he said. This allows the airport to trace complaints and act quickly if passengers encounter problems.
He added that two additional ride‑hailing platforms, Bolt and inDriver, had been approved by the Department of Land Transport and were in the process of applying for permission to operate within the airport grounds.
