Mérida, Yucatán — A protest by taxi drivers ended after three and-a-half hours today when negotiations were announced to sort out ADO’s role at airport.
Hector “Billy” Fernández Zapata, head of the taxista’s Workers United Front Wheel (FUTV), told reporters that two days will be set aside to hammer out an agreement. ADO, a major bus line with ground transportation service at several other airports, was to begin competing with local taxi drivers today for business from arriving air passengers.
Protesters forced the issue by blocking access to the airport in a protest described as peaceful.
Any cab can drop passengers at the airport, but it’s an exclusive group that can pick them up. Only 42 FUTV taxis with concessions are allowed to pick up passengers at the airport . Some of the concessions are over 50 years old, and they charge fixed rates that amount to much more street cabs charge, payable at a kiosk near theexit doors.
Competition won’t necessarily bring lower prices. ADO was to bring 10 of its vehicles, but reportedly will charge rates similar to the FUTV cabs.
ADO, which stands for Autobuses de Oriente, began with six buses in 1939, and today has shuttle vans and an executive taxi service (top) at the Veracruz airport. A similar car can be seen in Sipse’s photo above.
