ComfortDelGro to offer flat taxi fare for app bookings from April 10

Just days after Grab launched dynamic pricing for taxis and taxi-like services, ComfortDelGro Corp announced that it will roll out a flat fare option on its cab-hailing app.

Singapore largest taxi operator said it will offer the option from April 10 for taxi bookings made through its app.

The option will be made available alongside the traditional metered fare – and commuters will be able to choose the one that best suits them.

The flat fare option takes into account the distance to be travelled and computes a fare based on existing surcharges. Once a flat fare is chosen, there will be no additional surcharges unless the passenger changes the destination point or makes unplanned stops along the way.

A $5 charge for every additional enroute stop and a $5 charge for a change to a further destination (for every 5km additional travelled) are applicable. Electronic Road Pricing charges will also be applicable.

But travel delays arising from traffic jams will not result in a higher fare – unlike the metered fare option.

ComfortDelGro said its drivers will be encouraged to take on flat fare bookings through a waiver of the call levy.

The company said it was still exploring dynamic pricing, which allows for fares to fluctuate with demand.