Cuenca Taxi Drivers Threaten Work Stoppage Over Fuel Costs — Fare Review in the Works

What's Going On

Cuenca's taxi drivers are publicly threatening to stop service — a paralización — if fares aren't revised upward to keep pace with rising fuel costs, according to El Mercurio (source).

If you use taxis regularly in Cuenca — whether for airport runs, grocery hauls, or the quick trip home from dinner — this is worth watching over the next few days.

Who's Talking

The spokesperson is Patricio Padilla, "presidente del Frente Unido de Taxistas del Azuay" — the president of Azuay's united taxi drivers front.

His line to El Mercurio:

"Estamos pensando en paralizar las unidades."

Translation: "We're thinking about parking the units."

Padilla says a decision will come "en los próximos días" — in the next few days.

The Fuel Problem

Per the article, "el precio del combustible supera los tres dólares" — fuel is now above $3 a gallon after the most recent price adjustment. And, as Padilla put it: "el combustible sube exageradamente todos los meses" — fuel goes up excessively every month.

For a taxi driver running a full shift, a rising per-gallon price eats directly into take-home pay. And taxi fares in Ecuador are regulated — drivers can't just raise prices on their own. They need a formal actualización de tarifas — a fare update — approved through the municipal process.

That's what Padilla is asking for: "la revisión de la compensación y de la actualización de tarifas."

What This Means for You

• Expect fare increases eventually, whether or not there's a strike. The math doesn't work for drivers at current rates with fuel where it is. Something has to adjust.
• If a paralización is called, it will likely be for a day or less. Taxi stoppages in Ecuador typically get resolved quickly because they affect too many people to sustain. But it could disrupt a morning or afternoon without warning.
• Have backup options on your phone. Uber and inDriver both operate in Cuenca. If taxis go dark, these are where most people pivot.
• For airport runs, book ahead with a known driver during this period. If you have a flight out of Guayaquil or an early pickup from Mariscal La Mar, don't rely on flagging a taxi on the morning of.
• The fare review may land before any strike does. If the municipality moves quickly on the tariff review, Padilla's group may stand down. This is still an open situation.

We'll update when the decision lands.

Source: El Mercurio