The two taxi lanes at the airport were stopped and displayed banners with fuerza hermanos (be strong brothers) and estamos con ustedes (we are with you).
“We only want to get the message across to our politicians that we are not asleep and that what is happening in Spain could happen in Portugal”, António Ribeiro, one of the taxi drivers prepared to give his name, said, stressing that the protest was “orderly, and in solidarity with taxi drivers who are independent” of unions and representative organisations.
He also said that out of the 300 drivers who usually worked at the airport only about 100 were still on duty to ensure a kind of minimum service, so waits could be longer.
Taxi drivers in various Spanish cities have joined a protest that began in Barcelona and Madrid last Thursday against licences for Uber or Cabify, whose drivers have complained they are being physically attacked.
The taxi drivers are demanding changes to the law to limit competition from cars working for the electronic platforms.