IF some drivers are to be believed, at a time when taxi prices are going up, one thing is coming down - their earnings.

Mr Ahmad Yusof, 64, is so desperate for passengers that he does not mind queueing at least an hour six times a day at Changi Airport to pick up passengers.

Mr Ahmad, who has been driving a taxi for more than 27 years, used to earn $2,000 a month.

But since November, he says he can barely make $30 a day, or $1,000 a month.

Ironically, his takings started to take a dip after the taxi fare hikes were implemented starting from 18 Dec last year .

Taxi firms raised flag-down fares from $2.50 to $2.80. Other changes include a peak hour surcharge of 35per cent above the metered fare in the mornings and evenings.

Mr Ahmad says he has not paid the rent for his Premier taxi for two weeks. His company charges him $90 a day for the taxi.

He said: "There are no customers, even in town, and the cost of diesel is increasing. If this goes on, I'll have to return the cab."

He is not alone.

At midnight, the queue at the airport even stretches to the expressway.

One cabby, 50, who wanted to be known only as Mr Seah, said sometimes he does not pick up anyone for up to two hours. He said his earnings have dropped by 50 per cent.

"They increased the fares because they saw that taxi drivers were having a hard time. Now, they've made it worse," he said.

For most taxi passengers, the biggest pinch comes when they take cabs from the CBD area during the peak hours of 5pm to midnight because it means paying $3 more, on top of an extra 35per cent surcharge on the metered fare.

On Wednesday evening at Orchard Road, taxi queues were spotted everywhere.

At the taxi stand outside Paragon Shopping Centre, the line of taxis was so long that it stretched to the pedestrian crossing and people had to walk around the taxis.

But not all taxi drivers are taking a negative view.

A cabby, who gave his name as MrOng, said: "It's a typical Singaporean reaction, but I think the problem is temporary. Once people make the psychological adjustment, they will start taking cabs again."

The number of Mr Ong's customers has halved, and he has taken a 25 per cent dip in his earnings since the fare hike.

But ComfortDelGro, the biggest taxi firm, says the fare hike has been successful.

Using an initial assessment that was based on the meters of 1,500 taxis, it said the fare hike has been successful in regulating demand and supply.

Its spokesman Tammy Tan said: "While it is still early days, our initial indications are that drivers' incomes have gone up by about 10 to 11 per cent since the fare changes were implemented.

"The average driver takes back about $9 per day or $270 more per month now. He also makes slightly fewer trips than before, thereby saving on fuel consumption."

"Waiting times at taxi stands in the city has also dropped," she added, citing Suntec, Plaza Singapura, Clarke Quay and Bugis Junction as examples.

Other taxi companies, however, said that they received feedback that demand for taxis has been dwindling.

SMRT Taxis, the second-largest operator, said it has received about 100 fewer call bookings per hour, compared to the previous three months.

Mr Nicky Ong, general manager of Smart Automobile, has also received feedback from his cabbies that "they are having a hard time".

He said: "I hope it is a temporary problem. We will need to wait for two to three weeks before we can truly know the impact."

Mr Lim Chong Boo, the managing director of Premier Taxis, also feels that it is too early to tell if the decrease in demand is due to the fare hikes.

FROM $7 TO $14

But for Madam Salimah Ali, 44, the answer is clear - no more taxis home from work.
Madam Salimah, who works at Suntec City, said: "It used to cost $7 to take a cab to my home in Telok Blangah.

Now, it costs $14.

A passenger, who gave her name as Susan, said: ?I fear that the cabbies? losses will be even greater after Chinese New Year.

The learning support specialist, who takes taxis to work every day, added: "I am worried that in the long term, many cabbies may give up driving cabs.

But some passengers like Mr Kenneth Liu, 27, a banker, welcomed the hike. He pays $17 for his cab ride to work every day now.

He said: "Last time, it was so hard for me to get a cab, I had to call for one during the morning peak hour. Now, when I go down, I'll see a cab almost immediately."

AID PACKAGES FROM COMFORTDELGRO

AMOUNT handed out by ComfortDelGro through aid packages for its cabbies:

2007 - More than $49 million within the first 9 months

2006 - $73m

Help include:

1. Diesel rebates - cabbies pay 85 cents per litre,
43 cents less than at a petrol station.

2. No-claim bonus, loyalty incentive, rental-free days and performance incentive that enable hirers to get cash of up to $3,400 per annum.

3. Insurance - personal accident insurance policies valued at up to $75,000, as well as hospitalisation benefits of up to $10,000 per driver.

4. Driver also entitled to a three-day rental waiver on compassionate grounds.