Edinburgh Airport is a prime example of the negative effects of a monopoly – John McLellan

I don’t use Edinburgh Airport as often as I used to, but I’m always impressed by how efficient the bus and tram combination is for a quick arrival or getaway. But then I live not far from Haymarket and I know where I’m going.

That’s not the case for the hundreds of thousands of visitors, and it’s not straightforward for domestic travellers who don’t live near easy public transport links who must negotiate their way round the ever-changing pick-up and drop-off zones or join the queue for a taxi. With the news that Edinburgh Airport has struck an exclusive taxi deal which could slash the number of cabs authorised to collect fares without a pre-booked order comes justified concern that demand will far outstrip supply and guarantee a grumpy start for tourists unsure of their eventual destination.

It may be speculation, as the airport claims, that long queues will be the result, but it’s a reasonable assumption that with only 400 registered drivers ─ not the same as the number of vehicles ─ there will be shortages during the peak season.

The airport is a prime example of the monopoly effect on services where the lack of an alternative leads to poor value and a lack of customer care, and it extends to nearby businesses such as hotels using obscured cameras to hit unsuspecting drivers with punitive parking charges. How ironic that, as the airport hails six new Ryanair routes for this summer, it’s easier to fly in than get a lift out.