Cairns Taxis

What Cairns Taxis does

Cairns Taxis Limited is a privately held, cooperative-structured taxi company founded in 1966 through the merger of Blue and White Taxis and Black and White Taxis in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The company operates a regulated fleet of approximately 150 vehicles (with car number designations up to 320 across the cooperative) providing 24/7 metered taxi services across Cairns and Far North Queensland, including standard sedan/SUV, wheelchair-accessible, premium, and people-mover vehicles. It earns revenue from metered fares under tariff schedules (Tariff 1 weekday, Tariff 2 after-hours/public holidays, multiple-hiring tariffs, premium surcharges), booking fees (AU$2.70 standard / AU$1.80 wheelchair and TSS card holders), and airport tolls (AU$2.50 domestic rank / AU$5.00 international rank), with revenue shared between drivers/TSL operators and the company.\n\nThe business operates multi-channel booking through a 24/7 locally-staffed call centre (4048 8333), a mobile app on iOS and Android built on the Autocab dispatch platform, an online booking portal, and physical rank/hail presence anchored by Cairns Airport. Beyond taxi services, the company operates three complementary lines: Gordonvale Taxis (regional subsidiary), Top Rank Auto (an affiliated automotive workshop open to the public), and RAD Connect (two-way communication infrastructure division). A separate Business Services division sells after-hours call answering, emergency dispatch, and overflow call management to government, healthcare, property management, transport, and utilities customers.\n\nTaxi Service Licenses (TSLs) are sold via sealed auction in the AU$200,000–AU$600,000 range, with TSL purchasers receiving a company share package, making the cooperative a partial entry vehicle for new driver-operators. The company leadership comprises CEO/Company Secretary Robert Epps (appointed June 2023), Operations Manager Peter Humphries (22+ years tenure), and Finance/Administration Manager Jennifer Harrison (20+ years tenure). Cairns Taxis is regulated by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), operates under Queensland's taxi licensing framework, and reports regional investment valued at over AU$70 million with no disclosed external funding or parent company.

Name

Cairns Taxis

Legal name

Cairns Taxis Limited

Website

https://cairnstaxis.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Cairns Taxis Limited is a 1966-founded, privately held cooperative operating a 150-vehicle taxi fleet in Cairns and Far North Queensland, Australia, offering 24/7 metered taxi, wheelchair-accessible, and premium transport via app, phone, and rank, plus Business Services call-centre outsourcing and an affiliated automotive workshop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Taxi Services

NAICS

Taxi and Limousine Service (4853), Taxi and Ridesharing Services (485310), Limousine Service (48532), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Street-Hail Taxi Operators (Metered/Radio Dispatch) (TLAFAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Street-Hail Taxi & Taxi Fleet Operators (THAIAGAA), Dispatch / Call Center Taxi Services (THADAEAB), Airport Taxi & Ground Transportation Operators (TLAFAHAE)

Keywords

• Passenger transportation services
• Taxi dispatch services
• Wheelchair accessible transport
• Airport transfer services
• Corporate taxi accounts

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairns

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Taxi Fares (Metered Rides): Core revenue from metered taxi fares across Tariff 1 (weekday day), Tariff 2 (evenings/public holidays), and special tariffs for maxis, premium vehicles, and multiple hirings. Distance-based and time-based charging. Revenue is earned per trip, split between driver/operator and company.
2. Premium Taxi Surcharge: 50% surcharge applied to pre-booked premium taxi, people-mover/maxi taxi, and luxury hires when pre-agreed by the hirer. No surcharge for rank or hail rides.
3. Booking Fee: $2.70 booking fee added to all booked fares (non-Wheelchair/TSS card holders). Wheelchair and TSS card holders pay $1.80 booking fee.
4. Taxi Service License (TSL) Ownership/Lease: Revenue from sale and lease of Taxi Service Licenses. TSLs are sold via sealed auction (bid range $200,000–$600,000) with share package included. License owners can operate their own taxi or lease the license for income. Potential car purchase additional.
5. Business Services / Call Centre Outsourcing: After-hours call answering, customer service, emergency dispatch, overflow call handling, and message management services sold to businesses, government agencies, community organisations, and service providers. Revenue is service contract / managed services based.
6. Top Rank Auto (Automotive Workshop): Mechanical workshop open to the public at 16 Comport Street, Portsmith. Services include log-book servicing, diagnostics, brake repairs, electrical systems, battery testing, tyre balancing, and Itech World product installation (lithium batteries, inverters, solar panels for 4WDs/caravans).
7. Airport Tolls: Additional toll charges levied at Cairns Airport departures: $2.50 from Domestic taxi rank, $5.00 from International taxi rank, collected via the fare meter.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cairns Taxis Limited operates 24/7 metered taxi passenger transportation across the Cairns and Far North Queensland region using a fleet of approximately 150 vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, wheelchair accessible vehicles, and premium/luxury taxis. Services are accessed through a mobile app, 24/7 local call centre, online booking portal, taxi ranks, and street hail, with corporate account options for businesses and government. The core offering is supplemented by Top Rank Auto (mechanic workshop), Business Services (after-hours call-centre outsourcing), RAD Connect (two-way radio), Gordonvale Taxis (subsidiary), and the sale/lease of Taxi Service Licenses (TSLs).

Product overview

Cairns Taxis operates as a taxi service company offering multiple transport services including standard sedan/SUV taxis, wheelchair accessible vehicles, and premium taxi options. The core offering is a 24/7 taxi booking and dispatch service accessible via phone (4048 8333), mobile app, or online booking platform. The company also operates complementary businesses including Top Rank Auto (automotive workshop), Business Services/RAD Connect (after-hours call centre outsourcing), and Gordonvale Taxis (subsidiary). Taxi Service Licenses are available for purchase, and the company manages a fleet of 150 vehicles as a co-operative of local owners and drivers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard Taxi Service (Sedan & SUV) Core metered taxi service using modern sedan and SUV vehicles for everyday travel, airport transfers, and local transportation across Cairns and Far North Queensland. Available 24/7 with professional local drivers.
• Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Specialized wheelchair-accessible vehicles with trained drivers providing friendly assistance for boarding, securing, and exiting, available 24/7 across the Cairns region. TSS card holders pay a reduced booking fee.
• Premium Taxi Service High-end taxi service with spacious, premium vehicles and professional drivers for airport transfers, business trips, and special occasions. Pre-booked via the Cairns Taxis app with a 50% surcharge on the metered fare.
• Airport Transfer Service Dedicated airport transportation from Cairns Airport taxi ranks (Domestic and International), with toll surcharges of $2.50 (Domestic) and $5.00 (International) added to the metered fare.
• Business Services / After-Hours Call Centre
• Top Rank Auto - Automotive Workshop Mechanical workshop and auto-electrical services open to the public at 16 Comport Street, Portsmith, including log-book servicing, diagnostics, major repairs, brake/electrical work, battery testing, tyre balancing, and Itech World lithium battery, inverter, and solar panel installations for 4WDs, caravans, marine engines, and hybrids.
• RAD Connect - Communications Services Professional communication services division providing two-way communication equipment, radio dispatch, and managed services to support fleet operations and external clients.
• Gordonvale Taxis Subsidiary taxi service providing passenger transportation in the Gordonvale area using the same regulated fare structure as Cairns Taxis, with dedicated phone lines (+61 7 4048 8335 and +61 7 4056 6666).
• Taxi Service License (TSL) - Sealed Auction Sale and lease of regulated Taxi Service Licenses (TSLs) for the Cairns Metred Taxi Area via sealed auction. Packages include the license, a Cairns Taxis share package, and optional vehicle purchase. Bid range $200,000–$600,000. License owners can operate their own taxi or lease the license.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24/7 reliable taxi service with local call centre answering all calls
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RAD ConnectcoreTechnology or IntegrationRAD Connect provides seamless communication services for Cairns Taxis. Cairns Taxis is 'proudly owned and operated as a division of Cairns Taxis Limited' and RAD Connect operates as an affiliated division providing telecommunications and two-way radio communication infrastructure for the fleet. The Operations Manager (Peter Humphries) manages the RAD Connect team.
• Autocab GPC LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationAutocab provides the dispatch and booking technology platform (Autocab fleet management system) used by Cairns Taxis. Referenced in privacy policy as an outsourced service provider managing services on behalf of Cairns Taxis.
• Itech WorldminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTop Rank Auto (Cairns Taxis' affiliated workshop) is Cairns' official installer and distributor for Itech World products — lithium batteries, inverters, solar panels, and battery management systems for caravans, campers, and 4WDs.
• Gordonvale TaxisminorOthersGordonvale Taxis is a subsidiary of Cairns Taxis providing taxi services in the Gordonvale area. Operates with its own phone numbers (+61 7 4048 8335 and +61 7 4056 6666) and separate fare structure for the Gordonvale Metred Taxi Area.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Uber Australia: Dominant rideshare platform operating across Australian cities including Cairns, providing on-demand passenger transport via app-based driver network. Directly competes for the same rider use cases (commuting, airport transfers, nights out) on price and convenience, and is the principal structural threat to traditional taxi economics.
• Didi Australia: Global rideshare platform that has expanded into Australian markets, providing app-based on-demand passenger transport. Competes head-to-head with traditional taxi operators including Cairns Taxis on price, convenience and driver supply.
• Ola Australia: Indian-headquartered rideshare platform with Australian operations, offering app-based passenger transport services. Competes with traditional taxi operators in the same on-demand mobility market, with similar app-driven business model.
• Silver Top Taxi Melbourne: Long-established Melbourne taxi cooperative with metered fares, mobile app, corporate accounts, premium and wheelchair accessible services. Closely matches Cairns Taxis in service mix, cooperative-style ownership, and regulatory exposure to TSL/licence reforms.
• 13cabs: One of Australia's largest taxi networks (formerly Black & White Cabs), operating across major metros with metered fares, app booking, corporate accounts and a fleet spanning standard, premium and wheelchair vehicles — directly comparable to Cairns Taxis in service model, regulatory structure (TSL-based) and target customer mix, just at much greater geographic scale.
• Taxis Combined Sydney: Sydney-based taxi booking network aggregating multiple taxi operators, providing metered service, app booking and corporate accounts. Operates a similar cooperative/aggregator model to Cairns Taxis in a different metropolitan market.

Regional players

• Royal Taxis Australia: Multi-jurisdiction Australian taxi network operating in regional and metro markets, providing metered taxi, corporate and wheelchair services. Comparable service offering to Cairns Taxis, but typically serving different geographic catchments.
• Yellow Cabs Brisbane: Queensland-based taxi operator within the same state regulatory environment as Cairns Taxis, providing metered taxi, corporate and airport services to Brisbane and surrounds. Highly comparable on regulatory and operating model, though serving a different (urban) geography.

Emerging players

• inDrive Australia: Global ride-hailing platform with negotiation-based pricing model, expanding in Australia. Targets price-sensitive riders in regional markets, representing an emerging competitive threat to traditional taxi operators in secondary Australian markets.
• Shebah: Australian women-only rideshare platform operating in regional and metro markets including parts of Queensland. Represents an emerging, niche rideshare model that intersects with traditional taxi passenger segments, particularly women and families seeking safer transport options.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cairnstaxis
• Facebookfacebook.com/CairnsTaxis
• Instagraminstagram.com/cairnstaxis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cairns-taxis-limited

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cairns Taxis