With lockdown restrictions across the UK now on a downward trajectory, the taxi and private hire market alongside the travel market more generally are now starting to action emergence plans in preparation for more activity later this year and into 2022.
Covid-19 has been an abrupt wake up call to the taxi and private hire market in 2020/21, with consumers more than ever before likely to translate their newly acquired online purchasing habits to other verticals including travel. Whilst booking a taxi or private hire vehicle online is not a new phenomenon, it is envisaged that as the world emerges from Covid-19, the level of online activity is going to continue to rise. Coupled with the fact that much of the UK has generated significant savings during the pandemic, a massive level of pent-up demand exists for both domestic and international travel from Summer 2021.
In recent years, the emergence of aggregators into the crowded airport transfer and private hire market throughout the UK has continued apace. UBER, Kabbee, Minicabit and others have helped to drive up online bookings over the past decade and investment interest into this growing market appears to be growing despite Covid-19.
The latest player on the block is Airport Transfers UK. With funding from a range of private investors, this new booking platform is working with global aggregator powerhouse Mozio to offer a unique airport and business transfer online comparison solution for the UK market. Uniquely and unlike other aggregators in the UK, the platform offers a huge range of different vehicle types from standard minicabs, airport shuttles, executive chauffeur, minibus and public transport options too. As its founder John Walton, Managing Director has gone onto say, “We wanted a transparent online booking comparison tool which covered the entire marketplace, not just separate market segments in a market that is already highly fragmented. We therefore offer not just airport taxis but also minibus, chauffeur and airport express rail and bus tickets too. The complete market solution under one online travel brand.”
With investment in place, Airport Transfers UK are keen to use the emergence of Covid-19 to prepare more fully for a very busy 2022 and Walton has gone onto to say, “Travel will return, but it will be different and we are fast accelerating our online offer right across the UK to ensure that wherever you are, we can assist customers with their first and last mile transfers with the widest range of car and transfer options available.”
Plans to grow the business overseas are to follow in 2023 onwards but for the moment it appears that this new entrant is here to challenge the might of other aggregators dominating the UK airport and business transfer market. With 2022 expected to be a bumper year for travel, Airport Transfers UK and others will thrive in this new post-Covid 19 world where the demand for domestic and international travel will be higher than what has ever been seen in recent years.
Find out more about Airport Transfers UK and book your great value airport transfers and taxi services with them here.
