STITA sues Port of Seattle, alleges unfair bidding process
SEA-TAC AIRPORT -- A turf war at Sea-Tac Airport between two cab companies has become a legal battle.
After 20 years, Port of Seattle has dropped the Sea-Tac Taxi Association, or STITA -- the company it helped set up. Yellow Cab has won the port's bid and is set to take over in September.
But it appears STITA, the nonprofit group that exclusively served the airport for two decades, won't go without a fight.
"We're barely making it right now at the airport," said STITA driver Kanwarjit Bassi. "The economy and the train took more than half of our business, so it's hard. It's very hard."
The group has filed a complaint against the port, alleging an unfair bidding process. STITA also contends the port broke the rules when it changed its business model and asked for 10 percent of gross revenues instead of a flat rate for each ride.
But the allegations are news to Mark Reis, managing director of Sea-Tac Airport.
"If there is anything we're unaware of - they bring our attention to that makes us rethink things - we'll be the first to rethink it. But we don't know of anything at this point," he said.
Reis says that STITA knew about the competitive process seven years ago.
A state audit pushed the port to reopen the bidding process last year.
After 20 years, Port of Seattle has dropped the Sea-Tac Taxi Association, or STITA -- the company it helped set up. Yellow Cab has won the port's bid and is set to take over in September.
But it appears STITA, the nonprofit group that exclusively served the airport for two decades, won't go without a fight.
"We're barely making it right now at the airport," said STITA driver Kanwarjit Bassi. "The economy and the train took more than half of our business, so it's hard. It's very hard."
The group has filed a complaint against the port, alleging an unfair bidding process. STITA also contends the port broke the rules when it changed its business model and asked for 10 percent of gross revenues instead of a flat rate for each ride.
But the allegations are news to Mark Reis, managing director of Sea-Tac Airport.
"If there is anything we're unaware of - they bring our attention to that makes us rethink things - we'll be the first to rethink it. But we don't know of anything at this point," he said.
Reis says that STITA knew about the competitive process seven years ago.
A state audit pushed the port to reopen the bidding process last year.