THE BEST FINANCE NEWS ON PAGES 16 20 25 - 31 May 2023
Temporary taxi licences
Image by Palma Town Hall
PALMA Council has launched 200 temporary taxi licences in a bid to pre vent last year’s problem of lack of drivers during the summer high season. The temporary permits will be available until September this year and current licence holders will have preference to obtain them, with the rest being awarded through a draw among all applications re ceived. Regarding the character istics of the vehicles that may temporarily provide the taxi service, there is a sixyear age limit for those that are joining the fleet for the first time or 10, 12 or 14 years depending on the category of the car for those that are already pro viding taxi services at pre sent. The Sustainable Mobility department of Palma Town Hall and the taxi sector will also draft a Regulatory Plan ready for 2024 that will de fine the conditions for tem porary licences on a perma nent basis for the coming seasons. However, spokespeople for the taxi sector believe the measure is insufficient and that there are not enough vehicles or drivers available in the city to make it work.
There are not enough taxis in the city.
MALLORCA • EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
FREE • GRATIS
AN EXPENSIVE Strike called off SWEET TOOTH credit: BearFotos/Shutterstock
Issue No. 1977
€45 to carry a single Ensaïmada on board.
BAKERS and fliers are up in arms about the obligation enforced by airlines operat ing at Mallorca airport to pay extra to carry the fa mous local ensaimada sweet pastries on board. Most travellers to the is land, especially from other parts of Spain but also from elsewhere, make the most of their trip to purchase the traditional cake to take back home with them. But increasing numbers of fliers are complaining that several airlines are de manding that they are paid for as if they were an extra piece of luggage some times up to €45. However, this reportedly only affects ensaimadas purchased outside the air
port and not those bought in the dutyfree shops, which manufacturers say places them at a disadvan tage as increasing numbers of travellers are waiting to buy them at Son Sant Joan. Airport managing body Aena has stated that “it is the policy of each airline whether they are consid ered extra carryon bag gage or not,” which has led the Bakers and Confection ers Association to call on
the regional government and the Island Council of Mallorca to step in and pro tect the traditional product by not leaving the decision up to the companies. Spokespeople for the sec tor report that customers regularly ask them whether they will be able to take the ensaimadas on board with no extra cost and that they need clear information on the issue from the authori ties.
PALMA lifeguards have called off the indefinite strike they had announced for this week. As reported last week by the Euro Weekly News, the lifeguards had announced a walkout from Sun day due to the failure of the company that man ages the service and Palma Town Hall to carry out a series of improvements and salary increases that were promised under the new contract. Finally, a lastminute agreement was reached with the firm to apply a 35 per cent salary increase, although spokespeople for the service warn that there are still many demands that have not yet been met.