Taxi passengers in the north-east could have to foot the bill for a £1 drop-off charge at Aberdeen International Airport.
The fee was introduced at the beginning of January by airport bosses, who said it would ease congestion and increase public safety.
Currently, all non-airport taxis coming into the passenger drop off zone must pay the £1.
However, discussions are taking place between drivers and Aberdeen City Council about what can be done to resolve the issue, as part of a wider review of the taxi fares in the city.
A meeting of the council’s taxi consultation group was held yesterday and the issue was raised.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Scott Carle – convener of the local authority’s Taxi Consultation Group and licensing committee – said the drop-off charge could be incorporated into a taxi fare increase.
He said: “The council can’t change the way the airport operates, it’s their own private land.
“The £1 charge is something the taxi firms are understandably quite aggrieved about.
“Essentially, the way I understand it is that incorporating the charge into the fare could be an option put forward as part of the review.”
Mr Carle said the idea was still in the very early stages, but it could come before the committee when charges are next discussed in May.
“There is a fare review every 18 months to make sure everything is at a fair cost for the benefit of both the drivers and the customers,” he added.
Graeme McColl – chairman of the Aberdeen Taxi Group – insisted an increase in fares was not on the table at this stage.
He said: “The trade has not asked for any price increase going forward and it is not going to.
“Nobody should have to suffer as a result of the charge – taxi drivers or passengers.
“We are looking at a way to resolve this issue so taxi drivers are not having to dip into their own pockets.”
Tommy Campbell, Unite’s regional officer for the north-east, added: “The union is going to consider its options going forward.”