Uber defies National Guard crackdown, citing court order to continue operating at AICM

After the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) re-established its argumentation of denying ride-hailing apps and unauthorized taxis from operating connected the grounds, Uber responded defiantly.

Company officials noted that its suit against the argumentation has yet to beryllium adjudicated and, past October, a national justice ordered an extremity to “arbitrary fines and detentions” until it is resolved. In the meantime, Uber drivers continued to prime up passengers astatine the AICM this week.

Rideshare drivers caught picking up passengers astatine AICM terminals Thursday received verbal reprimands and were warned that their cars could beryllium seized if they returned. (Galo Cañas / Cuartoscuro.com)

National Guardsmen patrolled the grounds of military-operated airdrome connected Thursday, stopping and issuing warnings to rideshare drivers who arrived to prime up passengers.

“For now, violators are lone receiving a verbal warning, a reprimand,” 1 Guardsman told El Universal. “However, if we announcement a repetition offense, the car volition beryllium towed to a conveyance impound lot.”

The reimposition of the restrictive argumentation occurred aft dozens of licensed drivers representing the 11 authorized airdrome taxi companies utilized their cars to blockade entree to Terminals 1 and 2 connected Wednesday, snarling postulation and forcing passengers to haul their luggage arsenic overmuch arsenic 2 kilometers to scope their gates.

The airdrome and the taxi companies importune the judge’s injunction does not let Uber to run astatine airports, it simply prohibits the apprehension of drivers and “arbitrary fines.”

Late Wednesday, the Transportation Ministry (SICT) issued a connection affirming that “Uber is not authorized to supply services wrong the country of ​​the Mexico City Airport and different airports.”

The SICT besides said authorities whitethorn contented citations to enforce the regularisation arsenic agelong arsenic they bash truthful “in accordance with established regulations.”

Uber insists the ruling allows them to freely run astatine airports, arguing that the airdrome authorities could themselves look sanctions for ignoring the injunction.

This week’s enactment by taxi drivers was prompted by projected authorities that would let ride-hailing apps to run connected each national properties, which the protesters accidental would endanger their livelihoods.

The caller measure aims to level the playing tract with respect to security and taxation regulations, portion establishing equivalent controls for each participants — and comes conscionable successful clip for a flood of World Cup visitors who whitethorn similar acquainted apps implicit Mexican taxi services.

The tribunal lawsuit seeks to dismantle the closed marketplace taxi strategy astatine airports crossed the country. Mexico’s regulatory authorization has doubly taken enactment against the Marina Airport Group, the Mexico City airdrome authority, for collusion, fare-fixing and anti-competitive practices.

Taxi drivers denote blockade astatine Mexico City International Airport

The struggle has escalated since 2022, aft the national authorities tightened the prohibition connected apps that prime up passengers successful national airdrome zones, protecting the companies taking vantage of a captive market.

In the meantime, travelers mightiness person to dodge National Guardsmen to committee rides booked done integer platforms. Those doing truthful connected Thursday told La Jornada paper that Uber fares are importantly cheaper than licensed taxis.

According to fiscal analogous Mario Maldonado, licensed taxi services astatine the AICM outgo betwixt 87% and 282% much than Uber, and betwixt 239% and 672% much than DiDi, depending connected the destination and the website consulted.

With reports from La Jornada, El Financiero and El Universal