Majority of cab drivers in Canberra Australian Capital Territory (CAT) expressed their disapproval over the suggestions made that an extra taxi license be issued across the region.

The move was made after a review was conducted into Canberra's cab service to deal with the city's taxi shortage.

It was revealed that people wait for 30 minutes for a taxi at the Canberra Airport during peak hours.

The Tourism and Transport Forum and the Canberra Airport urged the government for more taxis while the Canberra Business Council wants the industry to be exempted from taxes.

Stephen Byron, managing director of Canberra Airport, stressed the need for more cabs to reduce the long queues in the airport.

However, president Mark Suckling of Canberra Taxi Alliance argued that an introduction of more licenses will slow down incomes for existing cab drivers.

“Most of us, our incomes have dropped by over 30 per cent over the past five years and that's with five fare increases,” he said. “We're working long hours and making less money than what we were several years ago.”

Mr. Suckling added that issuing more licenses will drive drivers out of the industry. He also suggests that organizing taxi pooling at the airport will improve waiting lines and taxi ranks should be implemented around the city.

Mr. Byron is also against the expansion of the shuttle bus services in the airport since commuters prefer taxis.

We've given out free tickets in the taxi queue to get people on the buses but they don't want to do it," he said.

"They want to go directly to where they're going because they're business people and don't know exactly where they've got to go."