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.