The taxi industry has a hard time in the Corona period, despite all requirements being met. “Many customers have become very insecure,” says Annette Kestermann. Even the necessary doctor’s visit is postponed. The massive slump in evening business is primarily due to the fact that “the restaurants and pubs are all closed.” There are hardly any privately arranged trips. There were hardly any pick-ups from the train station at Christmas either – “the people had almost no visitors”.
Ms. Kestermann estimates that the bottom line is that they would have 40 percent fewer trips in this lockdown. That was bitter, especially since some costs could not be reduced at all because of the on-call service.
While Öztokac tries to compensate for reduced income with short-time work for employees, Kestermann takes a different approach: “We only do without temporary help. Our permanent employees shouldn’t suffer any losses, ”says Annette Kestermann.
Taxi Hunke has been working short-time since the first wave. “But we let it roll so that the loads are shared,” explains co-owner Michael Langenbach. Short-time work also has a significant impact on employee income. Hunke was already operating before Corona, in November 2019, to switch to a pure driving service – without obligation to be on call. The number of vehicles was reduced from twelve to four. The reason: “We watch the market. It got less and less. Corona has now only crowned the whole thing, “Langenbach analyzes the situation in the industry. Thanks to negotiated contracts with the health insurance companies, he is currently living mainly on medical trips. “This will save us,” says Öztokac. Radiation therapy and dialysis patients made up the main volume. “It’ll be fine again”, the boss of Taxi Erdal remains optimistic that the situation will improve little by little in 2021.
“We don’t bury our heads in the sand,” emphasizes Langenbach. However, he assumes that 2021 will remain very difficult. The state’s bridging funds would help. Unfortunately, according to Langenbach, they always have to be pre-financed. He does not expect money for the last three months until February: “I would have hoped for more flexibility.” Annette Kestermann speaks of “a black eye” that will hopefully get away with: “It can only get better.”
–
– .
