OREANDA-NEWS. After another year of strong traffic growth, Sydney Airport continues to invest in and improve services and facilities for taxis, buses and limousines at our domestic and international terminals.

Taxis, buses and limousines are a vital part of the ground transport service and passenger experience. Sydney Airport has made a significant investment in infrastructure and services to support the thousands of taxi, bus and limousine drivers and operators at the airport.

Recent improvements include:

Increased taxi rank capacity at domestic and international terminals to enhance pick-up efficiency;

Expanded pre-booked taxi bays at both terminals;

Upgraded holding bay systems and capacity to improve throughput;

Introduced dedicated holding bays to pick up passengers with special needs;

Expanded and upgraded the new limousine pick-up facility at the international terminal; and

Increased kerbside and traffic management.

Over the next 12 months, Sydney Airport will upgrade the T1 coach and shuttle pick-up zone to provide new spaces, signage and seating. The airport will also upgrade bathroom facilities for drivers at the domestic and international taxi holding bays.

To reflect the growth in traffic and improvement in services, the ground transport access fee for taxis will be adjusted by 25 cents to USD 3.75 on 1 July 2013.

Access fees are reinvested in new capacity and improvements for drivers and passengers, as well as day-to-day kerbside and traffic management.

Bus and limousine access charges will also be adjusted to reflect continued improvements to the airport's ground transport system.

Sydney Airport has absorbed the cost of these investments over the last two years and this adjustment reflects these recent upgrades.

Sydney Airport has consulted with relevant stakeholders, including the NSW Taxi Council, to ensure taxi drivers are aware of the adjustment to take effect on 1 July.

Over the last decade, Sydney Airport has invested USD 2.2 billion in improved infrastructure and increased capacity across the airport and plans to invest a similar amount over the next decade.