AVALON — After more than five decades of transporting Catalina Island residents and visitors around Avalon, Catalina Taxi and Tours will discontinue its on-call taxi service Oct. 19, 2026, citing rising operating costs and competition from a government-funded transportation alternative.
The company announced that while its traditional taxi operation will end, Catalina Taxi and Tours will remain active on the island. Backcountry tours, interior campsite shuttles and private transportation bookings will continue.
“For more than 50 years, our taxis and drivers have been part of the fabric of Avalon,” said Christy Harp, owner of Catalina Transportation Services, Inc. “This isn’t the end of our presence on the island. We’ll continue to run our tours, our shuttles and our private transportation, and we’re just as committed to that work as we’ve always been.”
According to the company, operating a traditional taxi service in Avalon has become increasingly difficult as expenses have risen. Catalina Transportation Services pointed to higher costs for fuel, labor, rent, insurance and vehicle maintenance, along with newly assessed road-use fees, as factors contributing to the decision.
The company also cited the introduction and expansion of Circuit, a government-funded transportation service, as a factor affecting the financial viability of its taxi operation.
“Traditional taxi operators have to recover their costs through the fares passengers pay,” Harp said. “Competing against a service funded by a government grant, one that can offer rides at a fraction of the cost, has made it impossible to keep a taxi operation financially sustainable. We’ve spent years trying to absorb rising expenses and adapt, and we’ve reached the point where continuing isn’t viable.”
The decision brings an end to a service that has been part of Avalon transportation for more than half a century. Over that time, the company’s taxis have served island residents and businesses as well as generations of visitors arriving by boat.
Harp said the impact on the company’s employees made the decision particularly difficult. She thanked current and former drivers and employees who worked early mornings, late nights, holidays and some of the island’s busiest periods throughout the company’s decades of taxi operations.
She also expressed appreciation to Avalon residents and businesses for their support and to the visitors who used the service over the years.
“It’s been our privilege to serve this island,” Harp said. “We will always be proud to have been part of the Avalon community.”
The final day for Catalina Taxi and Tours on-call taxi service in Avalon will be Oct. 19. Customers who purchased commuter books will receive refunds for any unused tickets, according to the company.
Although the familiar on-call taxis will no longer operate after that date, Catalina Transportation Services will maintain a transportation presence on Catalina Island through its tours, interior shuttle service and private bookings.
