A warning was given last night that hotel shuttle buses are now being seriously considered by in response to what the Tourism Ministry say is ?the ongoing issue of inefficient and untimely taxi service? at Bermuda International Airport during the evenings.

But a taxi company leader has warned such a move would put in jeopardy the livelihoods of 600 Bermudians families and said it was a fact of life that you had to wait for most types of service in life, be it a hotel restaurant, a bus, airport customs or occasionally a taxi.

And Michael Ray, of the Bermuda Taxi Association, said introducing hotel shuttle buses would ?kill the taxi industry.?

His comments came after hotel owners reported that air arrival guests are turning up disgruntled by the poor taxi service they have endured from the Airport, with some having to wait up to 40 minutes to get a ride, according to the Ministry.

The idea that hotels might be given permission to introduce their own shuttles to pick up guests, as happens in many overseas destinations, has been mooted before as a possible solution but has been rejected by the Tourism Ministry in the past. However, all that could be about to change in light of the continuing difficulties being experienced by visitors.

The Ministry yesterday voiced concern about ?the ongoing issue of inefficient and untimely taxi service? at the airport in the evenings.

?Evening flights are consistently under-served and passengers have endured waits of up to 40 minutes for taxis. In response to taxi drivers? demands, the Department of Airport Operations now displays passenger numbers on each flight in the waiting area and provides a traffic officer to assist in the movement of arriving passengers and to facilitate the shared ride initiative,? said a Ministry spokesman last night.

He added that duty officers advise taxi dispatching companies in advance of arrival times and passenger loads on the evening?s flights, and he said visitor feedback shows an increasing number of negative observations relating to taxi service to and from the airport.

?We simply cannot allow this situation to continue and the Ministry is now considering urgent measures to address this clear need for our guests and returning residents,? he said.

On the idea of finally allowing hotel shuttles on the Island, the spokesman said: ?This is not the preferred option but in light of the consistent delays in transport from the airport it must now be considered. In this competitive tourism environment we don?t get a second chance to make a first impression.?

In response Mr. Ray said: ?The BTA is very sympathetic with guests and locals returning to the Island who encounter a shortage of cabs. But I do not think such situations are caused deliberately.?

He reeled off a list of times when people can expect to have to wait for service, ranging from a hotel restaurant, an appointment with a doctor, a bus, coming through customs and immigration and even having to wait in a lengthy queue to check-in for a flight at Bermuda International Airport.

And he provided this newspaper with a picture of a lengthy queue of tourists waiting at a bus stop near Horseshoe Beach to illustrate his point.

He added: ?If the Ministry allow hotel shuttle buses it will kill the taxi industry, it will affect 600 Bermudian families. Part of our bread and butter is the airport. Yes, sometimes we are stretched and there are some taxi drivers not holding up their part of the bargain. We are trying our best to make it better.?