Uber Fines at Cancún Airport: What’s Legal?

Cancún, Mexico — Drivers for ride-hailing applications continue to face significant challenges performing their work at airports across Mexico. The issue has recently returned to public attention due to an incident involving an Uber driver in Chiapas, who was fined 50,000 pesos for picking up a user at the state's airport.

Can You Be Fined for Offering Uber Service at Cancún Airport?

No, according to a suspension and information released by the ride-hailing platform, the suspension aids drivers so that the National Guard cannot detain or fine them for picking up or dropping off users at Cancún's airports with a pre-confirmed trip.

To conduct trips more safely and avoid problems with the National Guard, as occurred in the Chiapas case, tourists are asked to use Uber Reserve, a section of the application where the trip to and from the Cancún Airport can be booked days in advance of the travel date.

What Happened with the Uber Driver in Chiapas?

According to the news report that went viral on social media, a driver named Ángel Flores was detained and fined more than 50,000 pesos, spending over three hours with authorities who confiscated his vehicle.

The driver contacted the application, and the company itself helped him pay 25,000 pesos to recover his means of work.

For his part, the driver stated that the application had assured him he was protected by the law when working in a federal zone like the Chiapas Airport, meaning the guards had no reason to detain and fine him. However, it was also revealed that the officers in question claimed to be unaware of the suspension protecting the drivers.