Taxi drivers block access to Ben Gurion over fare reduction
Taxi drivers servicing Ben Gurion International Airport block the access road after companies and Israel Airports Authority sign contract requiring drivers to reduce airport travel fares by 31%.
The protest began after the owners of the station confirmed the signing of a contract with the Israel Airports Authority (IAA), which necessitated the reduction in price of fares from the airport.
The Hadar Lod station, which maintains 75 taxis, held what was an urgent meeting of shareholders, of which 34 participated. Out of the 34, 20 voted in support of the IAA contract, thus constituting a majority.
However, drivers are now protesting the fare reduction and claim that those who voted in favor did so because the IAA threatened them with personal lawsuits.
As a result, drivers are blocking the access road to Ben Gurion Airport, completely halting traffic and thereby prohibiting other drivers to pick up passengers. Other taxi drivers joined in the protest as well.
The fare discount was set and fixed by the Gett Company, which also submitted a tender for the IAA contract along with Hadar Lod.
The IAA for their part, are insisting that the protest and fracas is the result of a business dispute between Gett and Hadar Lod.
"The Israel Airports Authority is not a party to the business dispute between Hadar and Gett, and is prepared to minimize the damage to the passenger service by operating a special transportation arrangement beginning at the end of Hadar Lod's contract on Monday," said the IAA in a statement.
