After more than five decades of serving the residents, businesses, and visitors of Avalon, we are deeply saddened to announce that our taxi service will cease operations effective October 19, 2026.
For more than 50 years, our taxis and drivers have been part of the fabric of Avalon. We have operated year-round, employed local residents, supported local businesses, donated to community organizations and fundraisers, and provided transportation to residents and visitors through busy summer weekends, quiet winter evenings, holidays, and everything in between.
Unfortunately, the economics of operating a traditional taxi service in Avalon have become increasingly difficult.
The rising costs of fuel, labor, rent, insurance, maintenance, and the onset of assessed road-use fees have placed tremendous pressure on our operation. At the same time, the introduction and expansion of Circuit has created a fundamentally different competitive environment for local transportation. One, that we simply cannot compete with and has taken a significant share of what largely would have been taxi fares.
Traditional taxi operators must recover the significant costs associated with providing their service through the fares paid by their passengers. Competing with an alternative transportation service that is funded by a government grant and that can offer fares at a fraction of the cost has made maintaining a financially sustainable taxi operation increasingly difficult.
After years of working to absorb rising expenses and adapt to these changes, we have reached the point where continuing operations is simply no longer financially viable.
The hardest part of this decision is saying goodbye to the community that has supported us for generations.
To our drivers and employees, past and present: thank you. You worked early mornings, late nights, weekends, holidays, and the busiest days Avalon has ever seen. You are the reason this company was able to serve the island for more than seven decades.
To Avalon’s residents and businesses: thank you for calling us, recommending us, supporting us, and trusting us.
And to the generations of visitors who climbed into one of our taxis after stepping off the boat and allowed us to be one of their first introductions to Catalina Island: thank you for letting us be part of your Catalina memories.
Our final day of on call Avalon taxi service will be October 19, 2026. We will continue to operate our tours, interior shuttles, and private bookings. For anyone who has purchased a commuter book we will refund any unused tickets.
More than 50 years of service cannot be measured simply in miles driven or fares collected. It is measured in the generations of drivers, employees, residents, businesses, and passengers who became part of our story.
Thank you, Avalon, for more than 50 years of loyalty, friendship, and support.
It has been our privilege to serve this island, and we will always be proud to have been part of the Avalon community.
Owner Christy Harp