‘Ride hailing app for yellow taxis to be launched soon’

AMMAN — A new smartphone application for taxis will be launched soon, mimicking other high-tech apps for transportation services, an informed source said Wednesday. 

“We want similar services to Uber and Careem but for yellow taxis. The new application would allow a safer and faster experience for citizens,” Ahmad Abu Haidar, the president of the Transport Services and Taxi Owners Union, told The Jordan Times. 

Noting that the details of the new service will be announced when launched within the coming two weeks, he said that the union has already registered the application at the concerned agencies. 

There are around 17,000 yellow cabs in Jordan, of which 11,400 are in Amman serving more than 3.5 million residents.

Taxi drivers in Jordan have been voicing their frustration against what they called “unfair” competition from ride hailing apps, calling for banning private car drivers from “destroying their livelihoods”.

They charge that their businesses declined by 80 per cent since Uber and Careem drivers started ferrying passengers.

Recently, authorities gave the green light for licensing Uber and Careem under certain conditions that stipulate that the driver be Jordanian and have no criminal record. 

Land Transport Regulatory Commission Director General Salah Lozi said in recent remarks that the apps will limit work to either yellow taxis or cars with special licence plates identifying both companies, Uber and Careem. 

No cars with private licences will be allowed to work through the apps, he noted.