Cagliari hinterland taxis demand airport access and unified service area

Taxi drivers licensed in the Cagliari hinterland municipalities of Quartu, Pula, Assemini and Capoterra are protesting their exclusion from the dedicated taxi lanes and passes at Cagliari Airport. They say passengers are left on foot after flights, especially at night and during the summer, while unlicensed “traghettatori” fill the gap.

The drivers, organized by Taxi Amico di Quartu, cite the 1992 national framework law (no. 21) which allows pick‑up “within the municipal or district area.” They argue that a metropolitan‑wide service pool and a shared app would let any licensed driver serve the whole urban area, eliminating legal barriers. The Metropolitan City of Cagliari has not yet delegated authority to manage a unified taxi system, leaving individual communes to handle contracts.

Association president Simona Barbarossa and member Nicola Frongia call the current arrangement a “Series B taxi” situation and request that the city grant them the same access as airport‑based taxis, stating they are not seeking handouts but a functional public transport service for airport passengers.