The meeting last week between the four taxi associations, the minister for transport, Marc Pons, and the mayor of Calvia, Alfonso Rodriguez, did little to break the deadlock between the government and taxi drivers over the new airport bus services to key holiday destinations around the island.
As far as the cabbies are concerned, the only new service they will accept is one from the airport to Cala d’Or and slammed the government’s plan as "ridiculous". Biel Moragues, president of the association of self employed taxi drivers, said that what the government is doing "makes no sense at all".
"What we should all be doing is looking to make the maximum use of the public transport hub in Plaza de Espana and there should be better links, for example, from the airport to Son Espases Hospital for people flying in from Ibiza or Minorca. We need to be working together for the good of the general public, not being pitted against each other," he added.
For that reason, a 24-hour taxi strike has been announced for 6 March and a series of protests and strikes will be held over the Easter holidays. More details of exactly what the taxi associations are planning will be revealed on Monday.
On behalf of the government, Pons said that he thought that all parties made some ground towards reaching a solution. Not according to the taxi drivers.
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Barcelona airport has buses taxis and trains running for residents and tourists . Alicante airport has trains taxis and buses direct from airports to resorts for tourists and residents . Seems to be Palma just wants taxis for tourists and residents . Mallorca needs to get real and move forward like the rest of the world .
Baleric taxis are a rip off cancel their licences
I have news for Senior Moragues,the government plans make perfect sense for every tourist and resident,they will have a viable transport alternative to sky-high taxi fares.
Why do the Taxi drivers even think they can stop things moving forward in Mallorca ? All airports in all countries have road and rail public transport. Why should they be allowed to stop people from getting to their destination unless they use a Taxi or a Hoppa bus that with experiance can take longer to get from the airport to the resort than the flight from England. People will still get Taxis people will still use the Hoppa and people will want to use the new buses. The problem is there are too many Taxi licences granted hence the need for the fares to be high. Cutting down the number of Taxis operating from the airport would help all Taxi drivers. They spend half their time waiting for fares so maybe less taxis would mean higher earnings for them. Its 2017 and public transport in all countries is a high priority so whats different with Mallorca ? Oh its the Taxi drivers keeping control !!!!
MESSAGE FOR MEL B.I was ripped off €25.00 from the Airport to Plaza Espana, Palma. Commentator " MIKE " , advised me to get a receipt, especially after the driver has been " BUTTON PUSHING " to increase the fare to a maximum. Also, take/make a note of the Taxi's Registration Number/ license plate/number etc. The rip off driver can then be severely punished, and the overcharged fare difference refunded. I would like to see the driver banned, and the license cancelled, never to be awarded to that driver, or his family, again.
People are still being ripped off by overweight /obese taxi drivers Who should be medically checked more frequently, as they are likely to have a stroke,or heart attack. As MEL B states below, rip off is still being practiced. All the proposed strikes, mean no income, foolish actions. WHEN WILL THERE BE A PRICING BOARD, IN THE TAXI QUEUE AREA, AT THE AIRPORT. People, especially Tourists, can decide whether to use a taxi, and will know what the TRUE FARE SHOULD BE !!!!..
Having recently been charged an exorbitant amount for a relatively short journey from the airport, with numerous add-ons that were never explained, I welcome any initiative to introduce more competition in the transport area.