The restriction is designed to end longtime friction and charges of favoritism among cab drivers at the airport, officials said.

"We are looking at a system that would create a level playing field for all taxi operations at the airport," said Transportation Director Rod Haraga. "We are trying to do something creative in which everyone is entitled to provide taxi service there."

In January, Gov. Linda Lingle's administration delayed awarding a new four-year contract for taxi dispatching at the airport, saying it wanted to study ways to make the process fairer.

Last month it advertised for companies to submit proposals for a taxi management concession lease with the state. Companies have until today to do so.

Transportation officials are hoping to find a company to replace SIDA of Hawai‘i, which had exclusive rights to dispatch taxis at the airport for the last seven years. Competitors had urged Lingle to open the process to all comers, saying that would better serve passengers.

After losing the contract for the dispatch operation, the company abruptly shut down last month, owing $783,572 to the state in back rent and interest payments.

Since then, the airport operation, which dispatches taxis from a central waiting area to terminal pick-ups, has been run by TheCab, but there have been charges from other cab drivers that the company is giving preference for hotel and military runs to its own drivers.