Regulatory authority cancels concession for taxi service at the Juan Santamaria International Airport

The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) ordered the elimination of a concession granted to private cab company Taxis Unidos to provide transportation from the Juan Santamaría International Airport, the biggest in Costa Rica.

The ARESEP ruling followed an investigation prompted by various complaints against the company for not using the mandatory taximeter to establish trip rates.

Investigations began in 2009 after the regulatory authority received several complaints, mostly from tourists. The use of a taximeter is mandatory under ARESEP laws.

The company filed an appeal of the agency’s ruling, but the Supreme Court’s Civil and Administrative Law Branch, or Sala I, dismissed the appeal last month and announced its ruling this week.

The ARESEP board of directors said the cancellation of the contract must happen within three months.

ARESEP also notified the Public Works and Transport Ministry and the Public Transportation Council, which will now have to arrange for a new company to provide taxi service to and from the airport.