AZE.US
Taxi users in Baku are reporting a sharp increase in fares, with prices in popular ride-hailing services rising by about 30-40% since the beginning of June.
Passengers say short trips that previously cost around 3.80 manats (about $2.24) now appear in apps at about 4.30 manats (about $2.53) or higher.
Some drivers and taxi park operators link the increase to rising costs across the sector, including fines, vehicle maintenance, repairs and the price of imported spare parts.
Taxi park owners, however, deny that there has been a formal tariff increase. Entrepreneur Ali Valiyev said taxi fares in Azerbaijan are not regulated by the state and are formed according to market principles.
He said there is no single official taxi tariff in the country, which makes it difficult to describe every price change in an app as a regulated fare hike.
“If taxi prices are not regulated and there is no decision by the Tariff Council, then people cannot say that someone violated an official tariff,” Valiyev said.
He noted that many parts of the taxi sector are regulated, including vehicle appearance, interior standards, driver certification and special training. But pricing, he said, remains based on market competition.
Valiyev also said the taxi business is no longer as profitable as it once was. According to him, many operators are selling cars and closing taxi parks because costs are rising faster than income.
“Cars operate 10-12 hours a day and quickly wear out. Repairs are expensive, and many spare parts come from abroad,” he said.
Experts say the scale of the increase requires a public explanation.
They said neither taxi companies nor the relevant regulatory bodies have provided a clear statement on the issue. If prices have indeed risen sharply, companies should explain the reasons, while AYNA, Azerbaijan’s land transport regulator, should also clarify the situation.
“If such a situation exists, it must be justified by the companies. AYNA, as the regulator, should also provide an explanation,” experts said.
They said a 30-40% rise in taxi fares looks too steep to pass without comment, especially because taxis remain a daily transport option for many residents of Baku.
Journalists said they sent inquiries to taxi companies operating in Azerbaijan, but no responses had been received by the time the report was prepared.
For now, the main question remains unanswered: if taxi prices are shaped by the market, who is responsible for explaining to passengers why rides in Baku suddenly became much more expensive?
AZE.US