Taxi drivers stage protest at Alicante-Elche airport

Taxi drivers in Elche staged a protest at the Alicante-Elche airport at the end of September following ongoing disputes with private hire vehicles (VTCs) coming from other parts of Spain. The protest caused a partial standstill at the terminal rank after drivers blocked access to prevent passengers from boarding unlicenced VTCs operating in the area.

The conflict escalated due to delays from local police in responding to calls to check vehicle licences. The sector reported that officers took between one and two hours to arrive at the scene, prompting professionals to demand a permanent 24-hour local police presence at the airport from the local government formed by PP and Vox.

Drivers stated that they are seeing an increasing number of drivers from other autonomous communities operating at the terminal without the necessary authorisations required in the Valencian Community. José Javier López, president of Radio Taxi Elche, explained that VTCs with authorisations issued in locations such as Oviedo, Badajoz, and Badalona have been travelling to provide services in areas like Torrevieja and Benidorm, which the collective views as unfair competition.

The tension boiled over after several clashes this weekend, leading around 150 taxis to halt their service at the airport rank. While National Police and Guardia Civil officers initially arrived, they lacked the authority to sanction transport issues and had to wait for municipal security forces.

Taxi representatives also reported verbal insults, filming, and threats from individuals linked to the VTCs after drivers tried to block certain services. The collective is now urgently demanding specialised transport and road safety patrols stationed permanently at the airport to avoid delays.

Radio Taxi noted that by the time officers arrive, the disputed service has often already concluded. They warned of potential further mobilisations if the situation remains unresolved.

Meanwhile, local municipal sources rejected claims that the airport is neglected, stating that a dedicated Urban Mobility unit operates daily alongside local police patrols and transport inspection teams coordinated with the Directorate-General for Traffic. However, the taxi sector maintains that these measures are insufficient because mobility agents lack the full powers of local police to inspect transport authorisations and issue specific sanctions.