The city of Edmonton and the regional airport authority have signed an agreement that will allow city taxis to pick-up, as well as drop off, fares at Edmonton International Airport.
For the past five years, Leduc-based Airport Taxi held the exclusive right to pick up passengers at the airport.
But that created a situation known as "dead-heading" where Edmonton taxis could only drop off passengers and return empty, while Airport Taxis could only drive passengers into the city and return to the airport without picking up another fare.
Under the new deal, the airports authority will only sign contracts with Edmonton-based cab companies.
"This agreement helps improve taxi service availability, reduces deadheading and reduces impact to our environment," said Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel in a news release.
"We have an agreement that balances and meets the needs of the City of Edmonton, Edmonton International Airport, our taxi industry, and the citizens and visitors of our city."
Council also released 100 new taxi licenses on Wednesday to ensure there is adequate service to the airport.
Drivers who currently work for Airport Taxi will be allowed to apply for the licenses, which will be distributed through a lottery.
The airport authority will determine which companies get contracts for the airport by soliciting bids through a request for proposal.


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