Great Lakes Limousine Association Addresses Wayne County Airport Authority On Controversial New Policy

New limousine staging policy termed 'anti-traveler' and 'anti-small-business'

ROMULUS, Mich., May 25 -- Citing the likelihood of irreparable damage to the transportation and limousine industry in Southeast Michigan, including the potential loss of over 1,300 jobs, the Great Lakes Limousine Association today asked the Wayne County Airport Authority to immediately rescind a radical policy change slated to go into effect June 7. The policy includes an increase of over 300 percent from the airport's current commercial vehicle access fee payable by the limousine and luxury sedan owner/operators as well as the restriction of terminal access of chauffeurs.

On May 16, 2006, the Wayne County Airport Authority issued a memo to Ground Transportation Operators regarding policy changes that are to take effect Wednesday, June 7, 2006. Under the new policy, limousines will pay a $10.00 staging fee per vehicles per trip to pick up passengers, which is a dramatic increase over the current $3.00 charge per day.

In addition, under the new policy, drivers will have to remain with their vehicles and will be prohibited from meeting passengers inside the airport and assisting with luggage. Drivers' representatives will also be prohibited from providing this customary and important service even as drivers remain with their vehicles.

Richard Greiner, President of the Great Lakes Limousine Association, sees multiple problems with this new directive.

"First, this new policy sends to travelers a negative, uninviting, 'fend for yourself' message," said Greiner. "Physically disadvantaged passengers, as well as international passengers with language barriers, will have a more challenging time navigating the airport," said Greiner.

A safety issue is also involved. According to a 1999 USA Today article, women traveling alone have heightened concerns for their own safety. "Forcing them to leave the airport unescorted in search of their chauffeur will only enhance their insecurity and put them at greater potential risk," adds Greiner.

The "anti-traveler" message is in direct contradiction to the new brand image as a World Class airport that Metro Airport sought to cultivate in concert with its recent physical renovations. Yet, the new policy is anything but World Class. Metro Airport would be the only airport in the U.S. with this type of anti-traveler policy.

The policy also implements changes that are anti-small-business. The 53 member companies that comprise the Great Lakes Limousine Association are all small businesses working hard to survive in Michigan's tough economy. The new $10.00 staging fee, up from $3.00, will have a detrimental effect on limousine operators. Chauffeurs typically average five or six trips to the airport and this astronomical increase in staging fees is potentially lethal to the Association's member organizations.

As a result, limousine operators will be faced with grim choices: Either pass the cost on to their customers, which will make their business less competitive; laying off employees; or going out of business altogether.

"The fee increase, absent any amenities provided in association with the increase, is arbitrary, capricious and unfair," said Greiner. "It severely impedes the ability of our members to earn a living."

There exists a consent Judgment of the Wayne County Circuit Court, signed October 29, 1998, that states:

"That, as it relates to the operation of limousines, the Great Lakes Limousine Association and/or a duly appointed and authorized representative thereof shall be involved in the future planning and/or development of the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport as it relates to limousine accommodation."

"Not only were we not included in the development of this new policy," said Greiner, "We took our concerns regarding the important issues raised by this new policy to the Wayne County Airport Authority Landside Services Board on Monday, May 22. We were told, in no uncertain terms, that the new policy was up for discussion."

The Great Lakes Limousine Association requested that a motion be presented and passed by the Airport Board at the meeting today that rescinds the new policy, effective immediately, and until such time that both parties can review and address the airport's transportation issues without negatively impacting both the limousine operators and the traveling public. The Association is prepared to seek injunctive relief if the Airport Authority does not rescind the policy immediately.

About The Great Lakes Limousine Association

Formed in 1996, the Great Lakes Limousine Association is comprised of 53 member organizations, 680 vehicles, and over 1,300 chauffeurs, many of whom have been serving the traveling public in Southeast Michigan for over 50 years. For more information, please visit http://www.glla.org/ , or call 1.810.523.3221.