Bahrain's taxi firms are feeling the pinch after weeks of unrest robbed them of customers.

One operator estimated that business was down by as much as 90 per cent, as a result of people opting to stay at home or leaving the country.

Companies said their busiest period was just over a week ago, when they were called on to ferry people leaving the country to Bahrain International Airport after some countries advised their citizens to leave.

Meanwhile, Asian private taxi drivers told our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News (GDN) they had been avoiding certain areas following a spate of attacks against their countrymen.

'There are 967 taxis operating in Bahrain, but almost 90 per cent are not working due to the current situation,' said Bahrain Taxi Online administrator Waleed Fakhroo.

'Our business is completely affected and two of my colleagues and I are trying to help our customers.

'We mostly get calls from foreigners who call us to drop them to Bahrain International Airport.

'I remember when this problem started, within three to four hours I received more than 60 calls from customers asking to be dropped at the airport.

'People were crying and desperate to be at the airport so they could leave Bahrain.

'We took the risk to pick them up and drop them to the airport and it happened for the first time that whatever time we told them, they agreed to it.'

He said the lack of shoppers at the country's biggest malls had also been a major factor in dwindling passenger numbers.

'If we go to Seef and Bahrain City Centre, we see almost 10 per cent of the public normally there,' added Fakhroo.

'In regular days, 60 taxis stayed in queues from one to two hours and during weekends or holidays, only for 40 minutes.

'The situation was such that two or three taxis were staying there for three hours and they didn't get any customers.

'The taxi drivers say they don't see any tourists or foreigners, as many have returned home.

'I think the only tourists coming to Bahrain these days are journalists from all over the world to report about the current situation.

'We hope it will get better within the next few days and taxis will work normally without any problem.'

Arabian Taxi Company general manager Khalid Ameen said there had been a massive drop in customers, as well as high levels of absenteeism among Bahraini drivers.

'As our business relies on foreigners mostly, it is difficult situation as many have left the country,' he said.

'We have 118 drivers working for us and all are Bahrainis.

'Absenteeism is high and business has dropped by 70 per cent.'

Speedy Motors transport and workshop manager Ian Faulkner said business was down by as much as 75 per cent.

'We have only 25 per cent business now and it was even worse two weeks ago,' he said.-TradeArabia News Service