Taxi statistics, 3rd quarter 2009, The decline continues
The numbers of taxi trips declined by 4 percent relative to the same quarter a year earlier, while turnover declined by 2 percent. Turnover per trip, on the other hand, was 2 percent higher than the same period the preceding year, but 1 percent lower relative to the second quarter in 2009.
With respect to the same quarter in 2008, the industry registered a decline in most of the indicators. Namely turnover, number of taxi trips, hours in operation and hours offered declined, while kilometres driven with passenger remained unaltered in the third quarter this year relative to the same period last year. Number of taxi trips declined by 4 percent during the same period. The taxi industry covered a distance of 143 million kilometres during the third quarter of 2009; an increase of 4 per cent. Out of this, 84 million kilometres were driven with passengers on board, which remained unchanged relative to the same quarter the preceding year.
A decline in turnover
Turnover declined by 2 percent during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. The annual change in turnover for the industry was on the plus side for the first two quarters in 2009 despite a profound decline in the industry’s transport activity. This is attributable to the increase in taxi fares around the second quarter of 2008.
An average taxi trip lasted for 27.5 minutes in the third quarter of 2009 compared to 28 minutes in the corresponding period in 2008. Capacity utilization, measured as a share of kilometres driven with passengers to total kilometres driven, was down 4 percent to 58.6 percent. Capacity utilisation measured as a share of taxi hours on offer, however, was 43.5 percent. In other words, an average taxi was occupied for 58.6 percent of the distance covered or 43.5 percent of the time it was in operation.
