Anger is running high at Gatwick Airport as local taxi drivers stage protests, accusing Uber of muscling into their territory and destroying their livelihoods.
Drivers argue that Uber cars licensed in London are ignoring local rules, waiting around the terminal for fares, picking up passengers without following Crawley Council’s licensing laws, and undercutting local operators.
The tension escalated after Gatwick Airport struck a sponsorship deal with Uber, installing branded signage and creating “reserved Uber bays” — moves that drivers say give the ride-hailing giant an unfair edge.
One local driver, Don Barnes of Airport Cars Gatwick, painted a stark picture: “Trade is being decimated. Some drivers are working 12–14 hour days and still can’t make ends meet.”
Unite, the union backing the taxi drivers, has called on Crawley Borough Council to crack down on the practice. They say the council must enforce licensing rules to stop London-licensed Ubers from operating at Gatwick without oversight.
A spokesperson for Gatwick defended the move, saying that Uber and other private hire firms simply use designated pick-up zones and that their sponsorship arrangement was open to any company.
Meanwhile, Crawley Council says it’s investigating the claims and expects to publish its findings soon.
As drivers picket outside Crawley town hall, the message is clear: local taxi operators say their future is on the line and they’ll fight to protect it.
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