The president of the Balearic Transport Federation, Rafael Roig, is insisting that action must be taken against pirate transport at Palma Son Sant Joan Airport. Over the Easter period, he says that there has been a "massive" presence of pirate operators. The federation has denounced this situation to the regional transport ministry, stressing that "order must be imposed before the summer season starts so as to avoid tension".
Petra Mut, the federation's manager, explains that the complaint was filed last Monday. The ministry and other authorities need to "eradicate this illegal activity". "We are asking the government to be as forceful as possible so that regulations are complied with and therefore avoid a serious problem at the airport."
This pirate transport includes taxis, minibuses and private cars, Mut claiming that transfers websites are used to offer services, for which a five per cent commission is paid to the websites. The government, she says, needs to take appropriate action, "as there is time to prevent this situation from escalating and causing confrontations". Pirate transport with private cars "is totally illegal and violates all current regulations, because they do not have a ministry transport card and pirate taxi drivers do not have taximeters".
Roig adds that "the problem has worsened due to the presence of individuals who wait for customers in the arrivals area with total impunity". "This can and will lead to serious problems with carriers who have permissions."
* Licensed Palma taxis at the airport are the only ones who can pick up without a prior booking. Other taxis and minibuses need to have a booking. Private cars are completely illegal. There have been numerous incidents over the years, including one when taxi drivers at the airport went on strike for several hours in protest at the presence of pirate operators.
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When will the government put the people first and allow Uber, Lyft etc for better market conditions rather than supporting the taxi cartel?
Stan The ManBrown envelope??
Majorca taxi drivers whinging again, first not enough cab license’s government fault, then not enough taxis anywhere for the increased demand from tourists. Majorca and its government needs to get its act together total shambles. Add the Paseo Maratimo redevelopment delay and it makes one wonder why anybody comes to Majorca anymore?
It's the usual thing here. Taxis protesting with the support of government but noone wants to make improvements as allowing Uber or alike as then the self-righteous taxi drivers will then be on strike. Mallorca is lovely but they can't hang on to how it was years ago, which they tend to do here.
I had a Pirate Taxi from the authorised line of Taxis. How did he get in the line. Why did the other drivers and the control man at the head of the queue not reject him? He had to use sat-nav to Sa Coma on the East Coast. Went a direct route through villages. Not on the main roads. Then charged 100 Euros for an 80 Euro Fare. I was in a hurry ,so had to let it go.