Warning: The next time you land at Cancun International Airport, you could be arrested simply for ordering an Uber instead of a regular taxi. That’s exactly what happened to three tourists last week.
Over the past two years we have reported on ongoing abuses by ‘legal’ taxi companies at this airport, including frequent incidents of violence against drivers and users of ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Cabify.
While Uber drivers claim they have a court order allowing them to operate at the airport, taxi drivers insist this violates federal law. For reasons that remain unclear, the National Guard appears to be siding with taxi unions.
This time, three tourists were waiting for their Uber at the Terminal 2 toll area when taxi drivers started harassing them, taking photos, recording videos, and of course, calling the National Guard to get them in trouble.
National Guard officers quickly arrived on scene to stop the Uber driver from providing the ride. When one of the women argued that she should be given the service she thought was safest, the offices placed her in a service vehicle, telling her she had to “make a statement” at the police station to “find” the taxi drivers who had come forward. confront’. her.
The woman protested, wondering how to “confront” someone if she was the only one forced to go to the station.
Fortunately for this woman and her companions, a local news channel was presentduring which the National Guard was challenged for their actions. But you might not be so lucky.
After some time, the police simply let her go, but not before trying to stop journalists from recording the entire episode.
So why do travelers feel ‘safer’ when they use an Uber instead of a regular taxi?
Unfortunately, this sentiment is shared by many tourists on social media. Here, up Traveling lifestylewe have reported cases of taxi drivers assaulting Uber drivers and passengers. The most common forms of abuse include verbal harassment, fights, damage to vehicles and, of course, scams.
A striking example is the case of Xavier Cornier, a Canadian tourist who went viral on TikTok after having to pay $1,056.28 for a ride from Terminal 4 to 3, as confirmed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in April.
That scam clearly involved multiple participants, as two security guards tricked him into believing that he was not allowed to stay in Terminal 3 and that he had to move to the next one and “pay the taxi driver with a credit card.” These security guards conveniently failed to mention that the airport offers free shuttle service between terminals.
Another recent case occurred in September when a Venezuelan family was spotted on the highway after taxi drivers tried to charge them $80 to take them into the city, despite the official fare being around $32.
So is it illegal to take an Uber at Cancun International Airport?
Regular taxi drivers – and even National Guard officers – will tell you it is. But that is not the case. At least not anymore.
In August 2024, the court ruled in favor of Uber drivers. meaning they are now legally allowed to operate at Cancun International Airport without the need for additional permits.
“The court’s ruling, effective from August 15, 2024, means that Uber drivers will no longer need special permission to operate in airport areas. This decision removes previous obstacles and allows Uber to compete directly with traditional taxi services.” says the official website.
However, tensions between Uber drivers and local taxi unions continue, leaving tourists caught in the middle. If you feel your right to public transportation is being violated, you can call Uber “has also introduced an emergency button in the app, which connects drivers directly to 911 for quick assistance in high-risk situations.”
“At Uber, we reject any form of violence and promote accessible mobility for all,” the company said.
