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The question of whether digital platform drivers like Uber can legally pick up and drop off at Cancun Airport is an ongoing saga that seems to never end.
Taxi drivers have been against it since Uber began operating in Cancun.
Even after Uber drivers were notified by the company that they could start operating at the airport, they have received nothing but pushback, and not just from taxi drivers.
The most recent pushback is coming from Cancun Airport, which has posted notices definitively banning digital platform drivers from operating at the airport.
The Notices At Cancun Airport
The notices posted at Cancun Airport may be banning platform drivers from operating on the property, but they are directed at tourists arriving at the destination.
They are essentially warning tourists not to book a ride through a rideshare platform upon arrival.
The notice reads “By federal provision at this airport it is not allowed TAXI DRIVERS OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS, to pick up passengers.”
Contributing Factors Regarding The Notices
There are likely several reasons for the airport posting these notices.
One is the alleged attacks on platform drivers that do attempt to operate at the airport.
The other is the protests by taxi drivers that have caused delays for tourists heading to the airport.
The lack of any concrete definition of the laws seems to have led the airport to take matters into its own hands.
The National Guard At Cancun Airport
The National Guard has also been stationed at the airport.
According to recent reports, they have even blocked Uber from operating at the airport.
They were apparently stationed outside of Terminal 2 at the airport, preventing only Uber drivers from entering.
The Recent Pushback From Taxi Drivers
The airport and the National Guard are not the only ones keeping Uber from operating at the airport in Cancun.
Platform drivers are also getting a lot of pushback from taxi drivers.
Many don’t believe that Uber is legally allowed to operate on federal property, which is what the airport is, so there have been protests, blockades, and even violence directed at Uber drivers as a result.
What The Law Does And Doesn’t Say
The law says that Uber can operate in Cancun without paying for the same licenses as taxi drivers because Uber is a private company.
This, according to law, means that they don’t have to have state concessions.
Taxi drivers believe that it means that Uber drivers are only allowed to operate within the city but not at the airport because it’s under federal jurisdiction.
The law doesn’t seem to be very clear on this.
What Are Tourists Supposed To Do?
If you’re visiting Cancun soon, you’ll probably want to avoid Ubers, but you may not want to take a taxi either.
Thankfully, there are forms of transportation available.
There’s public transportation, private transportation, and transportation offered by some hotels and resorts.
Choosing Your Cancun Airport Transportation Wisely
When choosing between the different types of transportation in Cancun, it’s important to choose wisely, considering all of the issues that are taking place.
Your best bet is to book transportation in advance.
Both private transportation and semi-private transportation can be booked in advance.
You won’t have to worry about picking the wrong one when you get there, and you’ll know what to expect as far as cost.
Additionally, these types of transportation providers are not part of the situation currently taking place in Cancun.
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Thursday 26th of September 2024
It makes me wonder who paid what to whom to prevent digital platforms from delivering or picking up persons at the Cancun airport?