Uber Wins 10 Year Battle To Operate At Mexico Airports But Don't Expect Changes In Cancun

In a landmark decision that has been years in the making, a federal judge this week upheld a measure that stops authorities from detaining ride-sharing drivers, like Uber, who are operating at Mexico’s more than 70 airports. The news, which applies to all federal airports including Cancun (CUN) and Tulum (TQO), is being celebrated by digital platforms as a massive step toward “modernizing mobility” in the country.

For travelers, this sounds like a dream come true: the end of the “cat-and-mouse” game and the beginning of simple, cheap rideshare pickups. But here at The Cancun Sun, we must advise our readers to keep the celebration on ice. While this is a positive first step on paper, it does nothing to change the immediate, on-the-ground reality for travelers arriving in Cancun.

The Ruling vs. The Reality

The legal ruling is a complex one. It prevents federal authorities from sanctioning or detaining drivers at the airport. What it does not do is dissolve the power of the local, and famously strong, taxi unions.

For years, the Cancun airport (ASUR) has had exclusive and binding contracts with the official taxi unions to be the sole transportation providers allowed to solicit and pick up passengers directly at the arrivals curb. This new judicial ruling does not automatically nullify those contracts or the union’s powerful influence.

Rows of taxi providers at Cancun Airport

As we’ve seen in the past, a legal “right to operate” and the practical ability to operate are two very different things in Cancun. The taxi unions have been extremely effective at protecting their turf, and this new ruling is likely to increase tensions, not solve them.

Why You Still Shouldn’t Try to Get an Uber at the Curb

For the safety and efficiency of your trip, we strongly advise all travelers against walking out of the terminal and attempting to call an Uber to the main arrivals curb.

It’s Inefficient: Uber drivers will likely not even attempt to enter the chaotic arrivals area, which is controlled by union-affiliated dispatchers and taxi drivers.
It’s Stressful: You will still be playing the “cat-and-mouse” game. Drivers will continue to ask passengers to drag their luggage across the parking lot, over to the highway, or to a separate “pickup point” far from the terminal to avoid confrontation. This is a hot, stressful, and confusing way to start your vacation.

It’s a Safety Concern: Tensions between the ride-sharing apps and the local taxi unions are high. This new ruling could make the situation more volatile in the short term. Trying to hop in an Uber in the middle of the taxi-controlled zone is a bad idea that can lead to an uncomfortable confrontation, putting both you and your driver at risk.

The Savvy Traveler’s Playbook: “Business as Usual”

So, what should you do? For now, the answer remains the same as it has been for years: pre-booking your ride is the only guaranteed, stress-free way to leave the airport.

While this federal court decision is a fantastic step toward the future—and a necessary one with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon—it is only a first step. It does not create a safe or efficient system for travelers today.

The Cancun Sun will be the very first to let our readers know when a real, practical change happens, such as the establishment of a dedicated, official rideshare zone, like the ones at U.S. airports.

But for now, and for your upcoming high-season trip, it is business as usual. The savviest, safest, and simplest move is still to have a pre-booked private shuttle waiting for you.

Happy travels!