Up to 1,500 taxi drivers drove at 25 km/h around Dublin Airport, Clontarf and Phoenix Park at Friday’s peak-hour getaway, gridlocking the M50 and feeder roads for two hours. The action, organised by Taxi Drivers Ireland, targets Uber’s plan to introduce fixed-fare pricing—a move drivers say will slash earnings.
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) urged passengers to allow extra time, while Gardaí set up diversions. Bus Éireann, Dublin Express and Luas services were overwhelmed, and social-media footage showed travellers abandoning cabs and jogging towards terminal buildings to avoid missed flights. Corporate travel managers scrambled to re-book clients onto coaches and approved last-minute car-park expenses normally disallowed under policy.
![‘Slow-drive’ taxi protest chokes access to Dublin Airport, forcing companies to rewrite travel plans]()
With the Christmas exodus only weeks away, unions warn of further disruptions if Uber refuses talks on driver pay. Mobility advisers should programme live traffic feeds into approval workflows, consider advance parking reservations for key staff and brief travellers on 24-hour coach alternatives from the city centre.
The protest also highlights Ireland’s unique dependence on taxis for first- and last-mile airport connectivity—an Achilles heel for time-critical business travel. Companies with high annual air spend may wish to negotiate standby shuttle contracts or encourage rail links such as the planned MetroLink once timelines are confirmed.
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) urged passengers to allow extra time, while Gardaí set up diversions. Bus Éireann, Dublin Express and Luas services were overwhelmed, and social-media footage showed travellers abandoning cabs and jogging towards terminal buildings to avoid missed flights. Corporate travel managers scrambled to re-book clients onto coaches and approved last-minute car-park expenses normally disallowed under policy.
With the Christmas exodus only weeks away, unions warn of further disruptions if Uber refuses talks on driver pay. Mobility advisers should programme live traffic feeds into approval workflows, consider advance parking reservations for key staff and brief travellers on 24-hour coach alternatives from the city centre.
The protest also highlights Ireland’s unique dependence on taxis for first- and last-mile airport connectivity—an Achilles heel for time-critical business travel. Companies with high annual air spend may wish to negotiate standby shuttle contracts or encourage rail links such as the planned MetroLink once timelines are confirmed.
