Airport bosses are to tighten up the transport system in a bid to make the dispatching of passengers run more smoothly.

Airport Operations general manager Marshall Minors is keen to fine tune the way flight arrivals are dealt with as they exit the building to take the various transport options.

A key part of his strategy is to beef up the control of pre-arranged ground transportation and the general taxi rank.

At present, a Transport Control Department employee oversees the operations outside the terminal building but Mr. Minors said he believed the longer hours now required having someone on duty the same hours as the airport.

"We are looking at improving the dispatching service over the next few months,'' he said. "We will probably have our own person down there, so they can work the hours we are open.'' His comments came after one ground handler complained that a small handful of taxi drivers were jumping the queue and soliciting for trade amongst tourists waiting in line for taxis.

The operators are understood to use lists of passengers arriving that day for certain hotels, and then look for those guests in the dispatch area. They then take the people to their destination, charging in the same way as a normal cab.

"These people don't even know they are being picked up. It is just a way so they (taxi drivers) have to wait in line,'' he said.

"It's pitiful to see these guys walk up to tourists. Technically they are stealing because they are jumping the line of taxi drivers. Ground handlers have their own arrangements, like their own vans or pre-hired taxis, or the first taxi in the queue.'' The ground handler, who wished to remain anonymous, said the practice leaves a bad impression with tourists who seem bemused when they are asked where they are going, and then left alone if it is not on the list.

"It's an embarrassment,'' the source said. "Imagine you are a tourist and someone walks up to you in a strange country asking you where you are going or are you going to a certain place.

"They get embarrassed... because they might not be going to the expensive places. Tourists are asking `Why did he ask me that then abruptly turn away when I said no?'.'' Pre-arranged transport must be paid for as part of a package holiday transaction taking place overseas.

Mr. Minors said such incidents had occurred on the odd occasion, but he was hoping tighter controls on the area would stamp out any wrong-doing.

"That sort of stuff should not be happening, we have people in the arrivals area who ask the question, whether you have pre-arranged transport or are taking a taxi,'' he said. "If it is pre-arranged they divert the person to the handling agencies. There should not be anybody there saying `Where are you going?'.''