The Bali war on ride-hailing apps wages on.
‘Traditional’ taxi services have won the latest battle—a major one—as Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport has publicly come out and spoken about its ban on popular online ride apps like Grab and Uber.
Angkasa Pura I Ngurah Rai says online apps providing transport services like Grab and Uber are prohibited from transporting passengers to or from the airport, or else.
The ‘or else, what?’ is apparently that airport staff will not hesitate to report online taxi operations to the authorities.
“I have already pointed out that online taxis must not operate at Ngurah Rai Airport. Posters and banners about the prohibition have been put up. If this is violated, then of course we will act decisively,” General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Gusti Nugrah, Yanus Suprayogi said on Monday.
Online taxi apps are not welcome in Bali, based on Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika’s circular letter no. 551/2783/DPIK, Suprayogi enumerated.
Like pretty much everywhere else in the world, use of these sorts of apps have been sticky in Bali, with travelers loving them for cheaper rates and more standardized services, while existing transportation providers have been doing everything in their power to block out the competition that threatens the status quo.
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“During this time, we are committed to empowering local Tuban community transportation companies to operate at the airport. They have long contributed to Angkasa Pura with clear contracts,” Yanus explained.
The GM acknowledged what all of us know to be true, that monitoring app use isn’t so easy. So, the airport hopes all parties will cooperate so the police don’t have to get called in.
But while the reasoning sounds pretty cut and dried from the airport’s side, travelers are frustrated and disappointed with the airport’s banning of ride-hailing apps.
“If you choose to use a taxi, the queue can be very long and tiring. Not to mention there are concerns that rogue drivers will mess with rates,” Ica Chang, a traveler who regularly goes back and forth between Jakarta and Bali, told CNN Indonesia.
If the airport is going to forbid apps, then the airport could clean transport offerings within and make a better taxi queue with fair rates, Chang said, bringing up an excellent point.
We couldn’t agree more with Chang. If we can’t have Uber and Grab at the airport, then at least get the drivers allowed to operate there more organized, because right now, you get off your plane and walk out and it’s like:
