AZE.US
Passengers in Baku are increasingly complaining that some taxi drivers refuse to complete long-distance rides after accepting orders through ride-hailing apps.
According to passengers, some drivers call or send messages after accepting a trip and ask the customer to cancel the order once they learn the destination is far from the city center. Others reportedly agree to continue only if the passenger pays extra.
One passenger said trips to Ramana often turn into a problem.
“Every time we go to Ramana, it feels like we are going to another planet. They say themselves: cancel the trip, it is too far. And if you get into the car, they start complaining and sometimes even want to drop you off halfway,” she said.
Other passengers said some drivers refuse card payments or ask for an additional one or two manats ($0.59-$1.18) on top of the app price.
Taxi drivers, however, say the issue is economic. They argue that long-distance trips are often not profitable because of fuel costs, time spent on the road and the difficulty of finding a return passenger from remote areas.
Some drivers say short trips inside Baku are more profitable than traveling to areas where they may have to return empty. They also point to commissions charged by ride-hailing platforms as one of the reasons why some routes do not make financial sense.
Transport expert Eldaniz Jafarov said one of the main reasons behind the problem is that drivers’ earnings often do not fully cover their expenses.
According to him, high platform commissions, fuel costs and the need to return from distant areas without another passenger push some drivers to avoid such orders.
“This is already an issue between taxi operators and drivers, and it must be resolved. The commission fees that operators charge drivers for their services are too high. I think commissions should be reduced, and payments owed to drivers should be returned on time,” Jafarov said.
He also noted that if drivers repeatedly force passengers to cancel rides or refuse trips without a valid reason, ride-hailing platforms may stop working with them.
Taxi companies say drivers who accept an order should not ask passengers to cancel the trip without a valid reason or demand extra payment. Such behavior is not considered acceptable under platform rules.
Passengers who face such cases are advised to file complaints through the app. Companies say all complaints sent to customer support are reviewed. If a complaint is confirmed, the driver may be warned, the incident may affect the driver’s rating, and repeated violations can lead to account deactivation.
The problem highlights a wider conflict in Baku’s taxi market: passengers expect affordable and reliable service, drivers say some trips are not financially viable, and platforms are trying to balance fares, commissions and service quality.
AZE.US