The Mexico City International Airport (AICM) announced new restrictions on the use of ridesharing applications at its two terminals last week, prompting frustrated responses from travelers.
On Wednesday, the AICM posted a brief message on X announcing that ridesharing apps like Uber, Cabify and Didi could no longer pick up passengers within the terminal grounds.
Puntos de abordaje de transporte de personas por aplicaciones, en las dos terminales. #AICM pic.twitter.com/vzwnN8iiLl
— @AICM_mx (@AICM_mx) September 13, 2024
Instead, airport authorities established a single designated pick-up spot at Terminal 1 and another for Terminal 2.
Two days later, the AICM posted a pair of videos showing how passengers can get to the designated locations.
The response from the public was swift and negative, even as airport officials insisted the decision would improve security and traffic flow within the terminal.
While some criticized the inconvenience of the change, or expressed security concerns, others complained about the high prices and inefficiency of on-site taxi companies.
Among the responses:
“You really think we are going to walk such a long distance with suitcases while also risking getting mugged?”
“This is the service and security you are offering?”
“If you’d like, maybe I should just walk all the way home.”
One TV news reporter covered the announcement by posing the question “Should I kiss the Uber driver when I get in?” (to make the authorities think it’s a family member picking someone up).
Uber responded by announcing it would continue to pick up passengers inside the terminal areas, saying it had protection via a legal injunction issued in response to restrictions Mexico City International Airport imposed in 2022. “Nothing has changed,” Uber announced, according to online news site Sopitas.com.
Uber also demanded that the airport respect the injunction and called on the authorities to respect the rights of tourists to choose the transportation options they prefer.
The AICM did not respond to Uber’s claim but it did announce hefty penalties for ridesharing vehicles that violate the new restrictions.
Fines could range from 43,440 pesos (US $2,254) to 130,320 pesos (US $6,762) and offending vehicles could be impounded, adding additional costs for ridesharing companies that violate the new rule.
For its part, Didi said it was willing to adhere to the new rule, according to a statement posted by journalist Pamela Cerdeira.
“At Didi, we are always open to collaborating with authorities, taxi groups and private drivers to ensure that airport users in the country have different mobility alternatives. We are convinced that joint and coordinated action will make a difference and contribute to the creation of a better environment for everyone.”
With reports from Infobae, Sin Embargo and Sopitas.com
as a frequent traveller I have to say it is nice to get into an uber that you called while getting off the plane. Especially at terminal 1 the prepaid taxis can take ages to arrive, and after a long journey, that can really suck. I have bailed on the white taxi after 30 minutes in favor of an uber because there did not seem to be any taxi coming, ever.
It is not really that far to the new rideshare area, but that is also the metro station, so why not just ride the train? These taxi v rideshare battles are always thorny especially for disabled people. I personally think that if the taxi services were more efficient they would have a popular chance, but instead they litigate to move the rideshare pickup locations as far as possible from the puertas, which is an obvious political gambit.
It depends on where you start inside Benito Juarez Terminal 1, the length is about 1 km.
Also if you took an international flight and had to walk all over the place before even getting to an exit, you can quite a bit more time on your feet and maybe another .5 km.
That’s way too much walking for anyone with mobility or health issues after a long day of travel, with their bags. And I also wouldn’t want those vulnerable people (like my mother, for example) on their feet for 30 minutes waiting for a licensed taxi.
I take that metro all the time, btw. Also if you’re already at that metro stop (because of rideshare), for 5 pesos you can take it to another location closer to your destination and avoid
A) Airport upcharge
B) Car traffic sitting in your Uber
C) Cost of whatever distance you’ve shaved off going toward your destination on transit.
This is a horrible decision! Those certified taxis are managed as true mafias. I don’t wont to get into a long story, but I have had a group of friends get robbed at gunpoint when they got in one of those suburbans (robbed of all their belonging within 25 minutes of leaving the airport). The driver set it up. My friends spoke very little spanish, the police took them all to MP in Zona Rosa (not the driver though). It was a waste everyone’s time. I investigated a bit the next day, and the driver never reported the robbery. I ask the police captain how many robberies happened like that, she about 10 per day! Outrageous!
Be very careful, do not let your driver communicate on his phone while he is driving you.