Uber ban in Istanbul triggered pirate cab boom, Hurriyet reports

A file photo of official yellow taxis and van vehicles waiting for customers at the Eminonu district in Istanbul, Turkey. With only 17,395 licensed cabs operating in the city of 15 million, demand for cheaper but illegal cabs is surging, the newspaper said. — AFP

Pirate cabs are proliferating in Istanbul, following a ban on Uber Technologies Inc’s ride-hailing operations, Hurriyet newspaper reports.

More than 5,000 pirate cabs are operating in Turkey’s largest city, communicating with customers through WhatsApp, Hurriyet said Jan 6, citing a taxi association. With only 17,395 licensed cabs operating in the city of 15 million, demand for cheaper but illegal cabs is surging, the newspaper said.