Change to Alicante Airport Taxi Regulations

 

Following months of negotiations between the Regional Government, AENA – the airport authority and the City of Elche, the installation of a license plate reader has finally been approved for Alicante Elche airport. The estimated cost of between EU7000 and EU8000 euros will fall upon the Ayuntamiento of Elche, who will be responsible for the installation and maintenance.

The Elche taxi drivers association have been campaigning long and hard, staging several protests over the years for the police and authorities to crack down on illegal taxis picking up passengers at the airport. The device is expected to be operational from the first week of November and will automatically record the number plates of cars entering the airport zone.

The agreement reached was that non-Elche registered taxi´s can make no more than six journeys FROM the airport per month - providing that passengers have pre-booked the taxi. Those recorded having made more than this number will see their details passed onto the local police where a penalty will be issued. However, taxi drivers from other areas are already challenging this saying that it is not legal IF they have been pre-booked !

Whilst it is often a difficult decision to make as to how to get to or from the airport – drive, bus or taxi - it is important to ensure that a legally licensed operator is chosen as opposed to a 'cash in hand' service.

The Police do perform regular checks to ensure any driver is licenced / insured to carry paying passengers and do fine passengers caught 'collaborating'.

Any means of transport that is legally registered to carry paying passengers to and from the Airport should have an "SP" plate on the back of the vehicle, which means Servicio Publico and that they are legal and insured to take passengers.

Similarly, the majority of Airport car parks operating on the fringes of Alicante Elche airport are doing so illegally. Whilst it remains to be seen what - if any - fine could be levied on anybody using these services, it should probably be a consideration.

Shuttle buses are often overlooked, yet provide a cheap and convenient means of traveling to and from many of the resorts and larger towns on the Costa Blanca.

Recommended Reading :

* Spain Airport Parking Companies Continue to Break Law

* Comprehensive Study of Spain's Taxi Fares