WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from Australia
NEW $3,000 FINES FOR CABBIES WHO MISTREAT DISABLED PASSENGERS
Taxi drivers in New South Wales are facing a massive crackdown on poor behaviour, with new fines of up to $3,000 for those who refuse travel subsidies or mistreat passengers in wheelchairs. The strict measures aim to close “a long-standing gap in enforcement” that previously allowed some drivers to decline valid discount payments without facing any real penalty. Under the new rules, the fine for starting the taximeter before a wheelchair user is safely secured has skyrocketed from $300 to $3,000. Authorities noted this practice unfairly hiked up fares for vulnerable riders. Drivers who refuse to accept the state’s 50 per cent travel subsidy dockets or mistreat those with assistance animals also face the heavy new penalties. Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington, stated that people with disabilities should be able to travel “without concern over payment disputes or poor treatment,” noting that taxis are vital for getting people to work and social events. The reforms aren’t just about penalties; they also aim to make pricing clearer for everyone. A new flat fare of $60 has been set for trips between Sydney Airport and the central business district to end arguments over costs. While most drivers do the right thing, Transport Minister John Graham said the new laws send a “clear message” about the standards expected in the industry. Industry leaders have backed the move, with NSW Taxi Council Chief Executive, Nick Abrahim, emphasising the importance of ensuring drivers who break the rules “are held accountable.”
from Mexico
CABBIES BLOCK AIRPORT OVER APP DRIVERS DISPUTE
Taxi drivers shut down main access roads to Terminals 1 and 2 at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) in a major protest against the government's support for ride-hailing apps such as Uber and DiDi. The blockade, which began at 9am on March 11, caused
PHTM APRIL 2026
significant travel disruptions as drivers from the “New Image Land Transportation” organisation refused to provide services. The group is protesting a new bill that would officially allow digital platforms to operate in federal zones, a move the drivers see as a direct threat to their livelihoods. The taxi sector is demanding a written guarantee that current laws - which theoretically restrict apps from federal areas - will be upheld rather than changed to favour tech companies. “The entire sector will be present on the airport roads indefinitely, until the authorities give us a written commitment that the current law will not be modified and that the current legal framework will be respected,” the drivers stated. They argue that while they have followed strict regulations for years, authorities have failed to stop illegal competition from app-based drivers.
from Cyprus
PROTESTS AND THREATS OF AIRPORT CHAOS OVER ‘PIRATE’ TAXIS IN CYPRUS
Taxi drivers across Cyprus have brought their grievances to the streets of Nicosia and issued an ultimatum for an indefinite strike at Larnaca and Paphos airports. In a major show of force, a convoy of drivers moved from the GSP stadium to the transport ministry, parliament, and the presidential palace to protest against unlicensed “pirate” taxis and deteriorating infrastructure. The drivers are demanding immediate government intervention to stop illegal competition that they claim is “the cancer in this sector.” The protests in the capital turned tense when drivers discovered Transport Minister, Alexis Vafeades, had left the ministry shortly before their arrival. “Once again, the minister has left, he did not stand up to face our colleagues,"” said taxi union president Konstantinos Konstantinou. “He fled and we are very disappointed.” The union argues that while licensed drivers pay VAT and social security, illegal operators work “without taxi licences, with private vehicles, illegally, without insurance and a criminal record check.” The dispute has now escalated to the country’s main gateways, with drivers threatening to shut down airpors unless the ministry addresses poor conditions and “piracy” by a strict deadline. Drivers are calling for better queuing spaces, basic facilities like toilets and bins at airports, and the right to use bus lanes.”
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