Uber, the private transportation company, has started providing service at the Alicante-Elx Miguel Hernández airport, aiming to supplement the existing taxi service that is limited to vehicles from the municipality of Elche. The shortage of taxis has resulted in long queues at the terminal, especially at night, leading to complaints from passengers who have to endure long waits.
Today, with the presence of the mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz, Uber has launched 40 vehicles, out of which 10 will exclusively serve the city and the rest will operate at the airport. The Elche City Council explains that Uber “complements the existing taxi service, which currently consists of 204 vehicles, including 21 adapted vehicles. Additionally, 24 new licenses have been requested and will be added soon.”
During the launch event held at Paseo de Jaca, Mayor Pablo Ruz emphasized the municipal government’s effort to address mobility issues in the city. He stated that “a city aspiring to be a tourist destination must offer the best transportation service to both residents and visitors.” He believes that Elche should quickly provide efficient solutions to position itself where it deserves to be.
The president of the Elche Tourism Business Association believes that Uber’s arrival will mark a significant turning point for the city. She sees it as an opportunity for growth and economic development.
Claudio Guilabert, the councilor of Mobility, welcomed Uber’s arrival and highlighted how it has revolutionized the mobility sector. He stated that Uber will not only enhance mobility within the municipality but also contribute to economic growth by creating opportunities for new drivers and forming alliances with taxi drivers who want to join the platform.
The regional director of Uber in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, An [the name is cut off in the provided text], expressed her excitement about expanding Uber’s services in Elche. She emphasized that the coexistence of different transportation operators stimulates competition and ultimately improves mobility.
Overall, Uber’s entry into Elche is expected to address the current taxi shortage at the airport and provide a more efficient transportation option for residents and tourists visiting this historic city. The collaboration between Uber and traditional taxi services is anticipated to create a positive impact on both mobility and economic development in Elche.
The private transport company Uber begins to provide service at the airport of Alicante-Elx Miguel Hernández, in need of reinforcing a cab service that is reserved for vehicles of the municipality of Elche. The shortage of cabs sometimes causes, especially at night, long queues at the terminal and the consequent complaints of users forced to suffer long waits.
Today has been presented in Elx, with the assistance of the mayor of the city, Pablo Ruz, the arrival of 40 vehicles of the VTC company Uber, of which 10 will offer service exclusively in the city and the rest will do so at the airport. The Elche City Council explains that Uber “complements the existing cab service, which currently consists of 204 vehicles of which 21 of them are adapted. In addition, the 24 new licenses requested will be added shortly”.
The existing cab service in Elx -the only ones operating at the airport- is now composed of 204 vehicles.
During the presentation of the new service that has taken place in the Paseo de Jaca, at the gates of l’Hort del Xocolater, Mayor Pablo Ruz has highlighted the work of the municipal government to put solutions to the mobility problems existing in the municipality. “A city that wants to be a tourist reference must offer the best transport service to the people of Elche and visitors”.
“A city that has three World Heritage Sites, pristine beaches, the site of La Alcudia, hospitality establishments and restaurants of national reference, had to give a quick and effective response so that Elche is in the place it deserves.” In addition, he assured that “now begins a new stage of mobility in the city”.
The president of the Association of Tourist Companies of Elx believes that the arrival of Uber “will be a before and after”.
For his part, the mayor of Mobility, Claudio Guilabert, has welcomed a service “that has revolutionized the world of mobility and has put all the facilities so that the arrival is now a reality.” Thus, he has indicated that the presence of Uber “will not only improve mobility in the municipality, but will also contribute to economic growth, will create opportunities for new drivers and forge an alliance with cab drivers who want to enter the platform to provide this service”.
The president of the Association of Tourism Companies of Elx (AETE), Lucía Candel, has pointed out the importance of the arrival of Uber that “will mean a before and after in the city, the consolidation of tourism and the generation of wealth”. She pointed out that the “coexistence of operators stimulates competition and are complementary services to solve problems and improve mobility”.
The bus is the only alternative to the cab to connect the airport with Alicante. Archive
Uber’s regional director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Anabel Díaz, has pointed out that the arrival of Uber is in response to the need to improve mobility and offer more transportation options, “mainly in the face of a tourist season that is expected to be better than the previous year.”
In this way, he pointed out that this launch reinforces Uber’s commitment to the cab sector. The platform first integrated this service into its app in 2019 in Madrid, followed by Malaga, Barcelona and Valencia in 2021, and Mallorca, Tenerife, Zaragoza and Ibiza in 2023.
To use the service the user must download the app, register and indicate a payment method. Once logged in, the user must indicate the destination and the application will show the closed price of the trip. When a driver accepts your request, the application will show you the waiting time until pick-up and the vehicle and driver data.