51st Fighter Wing Commander's Action Line Published June 1, 2009 By Col. Thomas Deale 51st Fighter Wing commander OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Comment: I was curious as to why taxi fares at Osan are so much higher than other bases in Korea. I have asked several people within my chain of command and have been told to contact the Army and Air Force Exchange Services. Answer: Thank you for your question regarding the taxi fare rates here at Osan AB. The current taxi service at Osan is awarded every fi ve years and is based on cost, other services like having an English speaking dispatcher, minimum English testing for the drivers, standards on the vehicle fleet, and the vehicle replacement cost which is conducted every three years. The fare prices are included in this bid for the contract and may vary slightly from location to location. The price we pay here at Osan is the same as at Kunsan for they are the same contracted company. Recently, we conducted a survey on the average taxi fares on base and the result was approximately $3.10, so our fares are competitive. I appreciate your taking the time to comment about the base taxi fares on Osan. If there are any additional questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Steven Pena, AAFES General Manager at 784-4293.