Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II has yet to eliminate illegal taxis operating at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

"We have frequently filed complaints to the airport operator concerning the presence of illegal taxis, but to no avail," Darmin, an authorized taxi driver who regularly picks up fares at the airport, told The Jakarta Post at Terminal II on Thursday.

The operator's failure to crack down on illegal taxis has cost authorized taxi drivers business, as they now have to wait longer to pick up passengers.

Taxis must purchase official stickers, placed on their windshields and rear windows, to be authorized for operation at the airport. Although the majority of illegal taxis are private minivans, official drivers have also objected to fellow taxi drivers operating without stickers.

Darmin said airport security officers were aware of the illegal taxis, but did nothing to stop them, adding it was no secret informal taxi drivers had the backing of individuals inside Angkasa.

"You often see security officers make a show of stopping them with their clubs, only to let them pass," he added.

Salim, 50, another taxi driver, said operators of illegal taxis did not use meters, with many passengers complaining the fees were higher than those in metered taxis.

Authorized drivers are hoping the airport operator will deal with the problem aggressively.

Some passengers find the illegal taxis useful, PT Angkasa Pura spokesman Trisno Heryadi said.

Airport authorities have to consider the problem from a humanitarian perspective, as passengers with limited means rely on informal taxis and ojek (motorcycle taxi) to meet their transportation needs, he added.

"A taxi cannot accommodate seven or more passengers. Your choice is between taking two taxis and paying twice as much or taking a minivan that offers the same service as a single taxi, at the same price, but which can take up to 10 passengers," he told the Post.

Rita Zahara, 37, a resident of East Ciputat district, agreed illegal airport taxis were helpful.

"I arrived at the airport on December 28 after performing a pilgrimage to Mecca. My husband, my son, nieces and sisters came to pick me up at Terminal II. None of the official taxis we hailed was willing to take us using the meter," she said.

Instead, drivers asked her and her family to pay between Rp 200,000 and 300,000 to go from the airport to Ciputat. The metered fare is only Rp 150,000.

"An Isuzu Panther minivan driver approached us at the terminal entrance and was willing to take us for Rp 150,000," she added.

Popular

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Analysis: Indonesia denies normalization with Israel to enter OECD

Citroen to produce electric cars in Indonesia