ORANJESTAD, Aruba (Thursday, August 16, 2012) AMIGOE — A large number of taxi drivers is taking airport authority AAA to court to prevent the former from having to pay to collect passengers at Reina Beatrix Airport per September 1^st. “The summary proceedings

will probably be submitted on Friday due to the urgent importance”, STA-union leader Diego de Cuba stated before the Amigoe on

Wednesday. The airport, on the other hand, states more than 150 chauffeurs had signed as correct. Moreover, by their account, AAA states not to have heard anything official about an upcoming lawsuit. 

De Cuba explained that although some of the taxi drivers going to court already signed at the airport to ensure they can collect passengers, object on principle. The decision to take AAA to court was made last Monday, according to De Cuba. Although this issue was discussed some time ago, none of the chauffeurs had wanted to commit themselves. Last Monday 218 taxi drivers signed the letter of intent to go to court. We will probably take the matter to court this Friday, said De Cuba. “Hopefully, the case will be handled within a week or two.”

 Also for busses

The union leader also said that De Palm Tours is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the summary proceedings too. “De Palm Tours is namely to pay 650 florins per bus. Furthermore, De Palm Tours is to consider their obligations to travel agencies and tourists.” However, if the judge decides in the taxis’ favor this presumably also applies for the busses, the union leader explained.

Per September 1^st the airport will charge taxi drivers 115 florins per year to collect passengers. This so-called ‘maintenance compensation’

will be used for the facilities that were erected especially for taxi chauffeurs. It regards an office equipped with flight information screens and a place where the chauffeurs can freshen up and relax. Taxi drivers who disagree are still welcome to drop passengers ‘at the second ring’. The ‘first ring’, where passengers can take a taxi, is only for registered taxis paying the maintenance compensation. For that matter, the taxi drivers are also discontent about the timing of closing the ‘first ring’ for non-paying chauffeurs. They think another re-routing isn’t desirable considering the traffic around the airport is already chaotic with diversions due to the spiral circle under construction.