Newsroom
Taxi drivers operating in the Larnaca District have announced a series of escalating strike actions, beginning with a four-hour work stoppage on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The move comes in protest at what drivers describe as continued inaction by the Department of Road Transport over the regulation and enforcement of passenger transport services.
According to the announcement, the initial stoppage will be followed by a 24-hour strike on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, should authorities fail to take immediate and meaningful measures. If no resolution is reached after that, taxi drivers say they will proceed with an open-ended strike starting on Tuesday, 28 January 2026.
The mobilisations are being led by the Pancyprian Urban Taxi Union, which argues that the unchecked operation of ride-hailing applications, particularly at Larnaca Airport, has undermined legal frameworks and created unfair competition. Drivers claim that applications licensed outside the Larnaca District continue to operate at the airport in violation of existing road-use permits.
Union representatives say they have held multiple meetings in recent months with licensing authorities and transport officials, during which assurances were given that enforcement would improve. However, they argue that no tangible steps have been taken and that the situation has worsened, placing the livelihoods of licensed taxi drivers at risk.
Among their key demands are the immediate suspension of all ride-hailing application activity at Larnaca Airport for vehicles not licensed within the district, as well as strict and uniform enforcement of taxi base regulations across all platforms, without exceptions or flexible interpretations.
Taxi drivers have also criticised recent changes to the voucher system, which now limits vouchers to three hours and requires them to be issued in writing. They describe the measure as cosmetic, noting that it is ineffective without proper oversight, consistent policing, and a permanent supervisory presence at the airport. The union further points to staffing shortages within the Department of Road Transport as a reason enforcement has failed, allowing alleged violations to continue openly.
In a strongly worded statement, drivers stressed that they are not seeking special treatment or advantages, but rather the consistent application of existing laws. They warned that responsibility for any disruption caused by future strikes would lie with those who were aware of the situation but chose not to intervene.
