Social media is abuzz with fresh complaints about shortages of taxis at Gran Canaria Airport. Two videos circulating online show long queues of people at the taxi rank due to the apparent absence of any available cars. One video, captured from a vehicle's perspective, shows the empty parking area where taxis from Telde and Ingenio are supposed to wait until called.
Lorenzo Rodríguez, the president of Telde's largest taxi cooperative, expressed his frustration over what he perceives as the misleading intent behind the videos. He claims that these recordings capture a specific moment to highlight anomalies that do not reflect the reality of the situation.
He said is confident that immediately after the filmed incidents, an ample number of taxis arrived, but, as he complains, "they don't record that."
Rodríguez attributes the complaint to "pseudo-colleagues" who, in his opinion, are not genuine taxi professionals. He suggests that if they were true taxi drivers, they would be working in their licensed municipalities instead of seeking to solely profit from higher fares.
He advises them to switch to VTC (Vehicle for Hire) services if that is their goal. He laments that these drivers are only seeking to harm fellow professionals who are trying to earn an honest living.
Highlighting the oversight his service undergoes, Rodriguez mentions that various institutions supervise their operations. Currently, the management of airport taxi ranks is handled by a public company that monitors wait times, arrival schedules, and trips taken by licensed taxis.
Rodriguez emphasizes that Aena, the Cabildo, and both municipalities have access to this information, and so far, they have not received any complaints. Additionally, he expresses the taxi sector's satisfaction with the performance of the new company managing the former dispatch service.
