ComfortDelGro raises fares, adds driver fees amid Iran war

Michael Huang, ComfortDelGro’s head for Singapore point-to-point mobility business / Photo credit: ComfortDelGro

ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest taxi operator, will temporarily roll out an additional driver fee for ride-hailing bookings and raise metered taxi rates amid rising fuel prices due to the ongoing war in Iran and beyond.

Under the changes, bookings made via its app will incur a driver fee of S$0.50 (US$0.39) for fares below S$15 (US$11.75), while fares worth at least S$15 will have a driver fee of S$0.80 (US$0.63).

Separately, metered trips will see a S$0.01 increase in the distance-time rate.

The temporary measures will take effect from March 24 to May 31.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and remain committed to ensuring operational stability for our partners during this volatile period,” said Michael Huang, ComfortDelGro’s head of Singapore point-to-point mobility business.

Singapore’s pump prices have steadily risen since the recent conflict in Iran closed a waterway critical to oil supplies.

Records from Price Kaki, the Consumers Association of Singapore’s price tracker, indicated that prices of 95-octane petrol ranged from S$3.46 to S$3.47 (US$2.71 to US$2.72) per liter as of March 17. This surpasses Caltex and Shell’s previous high of S$3.42 (US$2.68) a liter, set during the Ukraine crisis in 2022.

Posted prices of 92-octane petrol, 98-octane petrol, and the so-called “premium” 98-octane petrol also crossed Ukraine war highs in recent days.

Teo Siew Pan, executive secretary of the National Taxi Association, said in a March 17 press release that the recent fuel hikes have stressed taxi drivers.

See also: ComfortDelGro’s quiet tech play and why it’s not sweating GrabCab

This story was republished with permission from The Business Times. It was moderately edited to reflect Tech in Asia’s editorial guidelines.