Montreal cabbies protest new airport shuttle

Taxi drivers circled Montreal's city hall honking their horns for about an hour on Tuesday to protest plans for a new shuttle bus between downtown and Trudeau airport.

The new 747 bus, operated by the Montreal Transit Corporation (STM), will discourage people from using cabs, the drivers said.

The bus, which will be available as of March 29, will be free for monthly transit pass holders and cost only $7 for other passengers.

The fixed cost for a taxi ride from central Montreal to the airport is $38.

"It is an enormous difference that will really hurt us," said taxi driver Wilfred Zidor.

Montreal North borough Coun. Monica Ricourt, who also sits on the STMs board of directors, met with some of the cabbies.

The STM already offered bus service to the airport, she said.

"The only thing the STM did was actually improve the service we were giving before," said Ricourt.

The new shuttle will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to the airport, the shuttle will stop at eight locations including Berri-UQM and Lionel-Groulx Metro stations.

A trip aboard the bus from downtown to the airport is expected to take about 40 minutes.