Taxi drivers protest at airport strands hundreds
Taxi drivers protest at airport strands hundreds
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Thousands of domestic and international passengers were stranded
for five hours on Saturday in Terminals I and II at Soekarno-
Hatta International Airport when taxi drivers held a protest.
Hundreds of drivers from various taxi companies started the
demonstration at around 8 a.m., protesting a new regulation from
airport operator PT Angkasa Pura that banned taxi drivers from
picking up and dropping off passengers in the left lane at both
terminals.
The new regulation stated that drivers would only be allowed
to stop in the right-most lane, which meant potential passengers
would have to cross the street in front of the terminals to get a
taxi.
"It's OK if the airport operator wants taxi drivers to stop in
the right lane, but at least it could have informed us or our
company in advance," said taxi driver Umar.
"The application of the new regulation is very sudden. We know
nothing about it," he added.
Umar, who was about to pick up passengers at Terminal I-C, was
driven away by a security guard.
Another driver, Abdullah, 56, said the new regulation would
not be effective.
"Imagine passengers crossing the street while carrying their
luggage. Will they do that? We drivers should go to them," he
said.
During the demonstration, the drivers parked their vehicles
and delivered their speeches peacefully. They accused the airport
operator of colluding with a certain taxi company.
"Why are the Silver Bird taxi drivers allowed to drop off and
pick up passengers in the left lane? It shows there's something
fishy between the operator and that taxi company," alleged
Suwardi, another taxi driver.
Angkasa Pura spokesman Syarial Syam said that it was the
company's fault for not socializing the new regulation nor
coordinating with the taxi drivers.
He also said the operator would apply a taxi counter system,
so passengers could order taxis at a specified counter.
"The system will enable the taxi company to monitor its
drivers and the passengers," he said.
Airport Police Chief Comr. Sri Suari Wahyudi said the new
regulation was meant to increase the comfort of passengers and
drivers both.
"It is only a trial. PT Angkasa Pura has yet to socialize the
new regulation, but the drivers are already opposed to it. In the
meantime, we will allow them to drop off and pick up passengers
in the left lane," she said.