Uber Still Not Authorized to Operate at Mexican Airports, Confirms Federal Transportation Agency

CANCÚN, Mexico — Mexico’s federal government has issued a firm clarification to end weeks of confusion: Uber and other ride-hailing apps are still not authorized to operate at any airport in the country, including Cancún International Airport, despite a recent court ruling that many interpreted as a green light.

The Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) released an official statement this week confirming that while Uber obtained a permanent injunction from a federal judge—protecting its drivers from arbitrary or discriminatory detentions by the National Guard—the ruling does not grant operational permission to pick up passengers within airport premises.

“The suspension merely establishes that National Guard inspections must comply with the Federal Roads, Bridges, and Motor Transport Law,” explained the SICT. “However, this resolution does not authorize Uber drivers to pick up passengers at airport terminals.”

Court Win Misinterpreted as Authorization

The confusion began earlier this month when Uber celebrated the injunction as a major legal victory. Many travelers and drivers believed it signaled that ride-sharing services could now legally operate at Mexican airports. However, as the SICT clarified, the decision only limits enforcement abuses—it does not override existing airport concession agreements or grant Uber new rights.

In Cancún, those concessions are held by official taxi unions under exclusive contracts with the airport operator (ASUR), giving them the sole right to pick up passengers at the arrivals curb. These long-standing agreements remain fully in force.

Tensions and Traveler Risks

For travelers, the practical reality has not changed. Attempting to request an Uber or similar app-based service at the airport remains risky, stressful, and potentially confrontational.
Uber drivers—still prohibited from collecting passengers inside airport property—often arrange pickups in nearby parking areas or along the highway to avoid conflicts with unionized taxi operators.

Tensions between ride-share drivers and taxi unions in Cancún have flared repeatedly in recent years, sometimes resulting in physical confrontations or harassment. The SICT’s latest statement appears aimed at preventing further escalation as misinformation spreads online.

Government Urges Travelers to Use Authorized Transport

The SICT reiterated that airport transportation is limited to licensed taxis, pre-booked shuttles, and authorized tourism transport companies. It also encouraged visitors to continue using established services until national mobility reforms—something Uber has publicly advocated for—can create a unified framework regulating ride-hailing platforms.

Uber has not yet issued a new response to the clarification but continues to call for federal legislation allowing digital platforms to operate legally at airports under standardized, transparent rules.

For now, though, travelers arriving in Cancún or any Mexican airport should stick to pre-booked transfers or official taxi services. Despite the headlines, the “Uber victory” doesn’t change airport pickup rules—only how they’re enforced.