Blue Bird on the Wing

(2/13/2010)

The "Blue Bird" of taxi happiness in Bali may be a thing of the past.

According to Radar Bali, a spirited meeting on Monday, February 8, 2010, between the management of PT Praja Bali Transportasi, Blue Bird Taxi (Jakarta) and representatives of Bali's transportation agency may spell the end of the popular "Blue Bird" taxi franchise on the island of Bali.

The meeting led by the Bali Chief of Transportation, Made Santha, was also attended by the Chairman of Commission I for the Bali House of Representatives, Made Arjaya, and the Vice-Chairman of Commission I, IGP Widjera. Representing PT Bali Praja Bali Transportasi was Agus Subroto who was accompanied by the Vice-President of the Blue Bird Group, Noni Purnomo.

In what was reported to be a very intense meeting, the Bali transportation chief tabled Ministerial Decision No. 35 of 2003 stipulating it is illegal for PT Praja Bali Transportasi to operate a fleet under the guise of Blue Bird. Santha told the taxi operator, "we continue to hold fast to Ministerial Decision No. 35 and the removal of all physical attributes that are not in accordance with the company's permit must be removed."

Santha has ordered that the "Blue Bird" branding including decals on the front windscreens together with company name and website must be removed. The Blue Bird logo, however, can stay based on the proof of registrations of the trademark shown by "Bali Taxi."

Santha promised to send his teams to start checking the taxi fleet within one week and underlined that he would begin issuing a series of three warnings before final definitive actions, such as the revocation of the operating permit, is done.

The Public Relation's Manager of the Blue Bird Group, Teguh Wijayanto said that the company would obey the ruling removing the Blue Bird name on the cars, driver's uniforms and the company signboard.

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