Spanish private auto taxi service operator Cabify launched its CabiFLY Shuttle air taxi service in Mexico City on Wednesday (September 28) together with Helitour operator, with a fleet of Bell helicopters.
The company said in a news release, CabiFLY Shuttle, is the first shuttle air service of its type, offering point to point, round trips for 1 to 5 people from Mexico City’s International Airport to the Miditel Heliport, located in the upscale neighbourhood of Polanco. Trips would take less than 10 minutes and a fixed rate would be charged.
A need to cut down on commuting times due to heavy traffic congestion in Mexico City, which is home to more than 20 million people, motivated the company to launch the service.
Users will need to book their point to point service – made at specific times with a fee of $95 dollars – exclusively through the web page site https://helitour.aero/cabifly
Two services from Monday to Friday – 8:30am and 5:30pm – will be offered to start with and schedules may be expanded according to demand, the company said in a news release.
Passengers may travel with luggage weighing no more than 10kg (22 pounds) per person.
“It’s a very affordable fare if we compare it with similar services in the United States and Europe, because it’s important to mention that this type of service is the first in Latin America within a company of transport networks which is Cabify. The fare is very affordable compared to other similar services in markets like Europe and the United States,” said the General Manager of Cabify Latam, Ricardo Weder.
Helitour Manager, Juan Antonio Gasca, hailed the innovative service.
“They are new Bell 407 generation aircraft, with a capacity to carry five to six passengers. The most important thing is that the trip will last 10 minutes. That is marvellous. The time it will take to move around is unbelievable,” said Gasca.
Being the first service of its kind, both companies seek to attract the corporate sector.
Driving in Mexico City is a nightmare due to its unpredictability because of protests, accidents, limited public transport options, lack of proper infrastructure and poor local government policies.
Surveys have shown Mexico ranks high in terms of “commuter pain” and its residents bear the consequences of stress, lost time and ill health.
Stop-and-start traffic is the biggest complaint of drivers, followed by unreliable journey time, the slow pace, and rude or aggressive drivers, surveys have shown.
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016
