Some fifty taxi drivers at the airport stopped working in protest at the presence in arrivals of representatives of "microbus" services who were offering places to tourists. There were some ugly scenes involving the drivers and these representatives, as tourists were for a time (from 18.30 to 22.00) left without any services. Police had to advise tourists to use bus services, though taxi drivers did relent and provide services to groups with children, the elderly and mobility problems. The number of protesting taxi drivers eventually swelled to more than 300. The Palma EMT transport company provided an additional bus for its route from the airport to the city centre in order to help to move tourists.
The taxi drivers insisted that they would not fully resume services until they had met government and Aena representatives. The transport ministry explained that the offer of places by the microbuses and also hire cars with drivers was not in principle illegal, though the taxi drivers argued that the way of attracting custom was. Biel Moragues, president of the association of self-employed taxi drivers, described the situation at the airport as being "like a Persian market" because of the number of other services being offered.
Following talks, which also included Palma town hall representatives, it was announced that the government will today (Friday) pass a decree by which taxi drivers will be the only ones who can offer services in the airport. The microbuses and others will need to have a previously agreed contract with customers.
Local police and National Police will be deployed at the airport today and on following days to enforce this. The taxi drivers say that they will wait a week. If the "pirate" services are still present and touting for business, there will be a total halt to taxi services at the airport.
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The "licensed" taxi drivers should worry less about the "pirates" than the coming era - from as early as 2020? - of autonomous vehicles, when they will be rendered utterly unnecessary.
Wonderful tourist memories. Acting like children and destroying the start of family holidays. Disgusted by this continuing Union attitudes from Hosoitality, Coach and Bus drivers, luggage handlers, Air traffic controllers. You have a 4 month season. Get on with it. Or close your island to tourists and see what the island looks like in three years time.
Mallorca is swiftly becoming a joke.No political leadership,obviously no care/concern for tourists,who let's not forget keep this island open. It would appear the electorate don't care as we are only tourists ,but, we do not forget that compared to mainland Spain and the majority of the rest of Europe Mallorca is more expensive. Time to move on!
I am surprised to see how weak the Mallorcan government is. Reading about the taxi drivers over the past 12 months reminds me of the UK in the 1970s.
Disgraceful and what a 'Welcome to Mallorca' for everyone at the airport. If I were in charge, I would pull their licenses. You don't pull stunts like this and have them go unpunished. Just look at the air traffic controllers. There must be consequences for actions. I too never take a taxi, I always take the bus. It is much cheaper and just as fast. The last time I was at the airport, they refused to allow my daughter, her husband, my two grandchildren and myself in the same taxi even though there were taxis capable of carrying us. They demanded that we order TWO taxis. We promptly walked across the street and took the bus. I have absolutely NO SYMPATHY for our taxi drivers after the stunts they have been pulling. Plenty of people looking for work.......
Why not strike for the whole summer, and we'll have their lunatic drivers off the roads for a while.
Strike all you like,once the bills start to pile up and you miss a few meals,although looking at the picture,missing a few meals would do some of you a lot of good,you will soon change your tune. Personally,I always use the fast hopper,it's a lot cheaper for one or two people and gets you there almost as quickly.