Airport Taxis Must Use "María"
The airport taxis, those
orange coloured taxis
operated by Taxis Unidos
Aeropuerto, operating
out of the Juan
Sanatamaría (San José)
international airport,
are, under no
circumstances, required
to use the taximeter. In
addition, they can only
charge their fares in "colones".
That is the decision by
the Autoridad Reguladora
de los Servicios
Públicos (Aresep) - the
regulating body of
public prices and
services - in rejecting
a request by the taxi
group for a rate and to
work without a taximeter
of "maría" as it is
locally called.
The taxi group was
ordered last March to
install marías in all
taxis and to charge
fares based on the
established rates. The
order was published on
March 13, as resolution
RRG-7976-2008.
According to Carolina
Mora, spokesperson for
the Aresep, the airport
taxis are not only
required to use the
maría but can only
charge their fares in
colones.
Mora added that the
Aresep is aware that the
requirements are not
being met by the Taxis
Unidos del Aeropuerto
and is takin steps to
enfore the regulations.
In addition to the use
of the maría and only
colones fares, the
airport taxis are only
to provide taxi services
from the airport, taking
their customers to any
destination and then
immediately return back
to the airport.
The decision should put
a stop to the common
practice of charging a
flat rate, depending on
the destination, and in
fares dollars. Visitors
arriving at the San José
airport only have the
choice of using the
airport taxis, prepaying
the fare inside the
terminal, or the
"pirate" taxis outside
the terminal. The red or
regular taxis are not
permitted to pick up
fares at the airport.
The Aresep said it will
receive complaints from
customers who have been
overcharged.
The current rates
established by the
Aresep for the airport
taxis is as follows:
|
Sedan |
1st kilometre |
¢675 |
| |
Additional
kilometre |
¢555 |
| |
Wait (per hour) |
¢2.005 |
| |
Delays (per
hour)
|
¢5.550
|
|
Minivan |
1st kilometre |
¢675 |
| |
Additional
kilometre |
¢675 |
| |
Wait (per hour) |
¢2.115 |
| |
Delays (per
hour) |
¢6.750 |
Source: Aresep.
|
