Taxi drivers’ protests in Bogota escalated since yesterday to one of the city’s most sensitive areas: access routes to El Dorado International Airport. What began as a sector-wide strike ended in blockades, verbal confrontations, and a significant disruption to the mobility of thousands of passengers trying to reach or leave the air terminal.
At several points during the day, travelers were forced to walk with their luggage, change their routes, or arrive hours earlier for their flights due to the collapse of the roads.
The scene highlighted not only the immediate impact of the protest, but also the depth of a conflict that blends labor demands, business tensions, and administrative decisions that have generated discontent within the sector.
Taxi drivers’ protests in Colombia reach Bogota’s airport
The protest did not stem from a single trigger, but from an accumulation of grievances. One of the central issues involves recent statements about drivers’ criminal records—reports indicated that 60% of Bogota’s taxi drivers have criminal records—which the guild considers stigmatizing and demands be corrected.
This is compounded by internal tensions in the operation of the service at the airport. Taxi drivers have questioned changes in the management of key companies within the terminal, especially following the arrival of a new administration at Taxi Imperial, which, according to drivers, occurred without sufficient communication or guarantees.
The discontent is also linked to increasingly demanding operating conditions. Drivers report longer waiting times to pick up passengers, restrictions on shifts, and additional costs to operate inside the airport. These conditions, they say, have reduced the service’s profitability.
Another key factor is the perception of unequal competition. Taxi drivers argue that special transportation services—authorized private vehicles or “white cars”—are being given priority in operations, reducing their job opportunities. Some even report commission charges of up to 15% per service within the terminal.
The conflict reached a breaking point amid public statements that inflamed tensions within the guild. The arrival of a sector executive at the airport, following a media appearance, triggered a reaction from dozens of drivers who surrounded him and blocked vehicle access as a sign of rejection.
Protesters accused him of discrediting the guild and favoring other types of transportation services. The situation quickly escalated into blockades and shouting, in an episode that exposed the rift between corporate management and drivers.
At the same time, the strike had been building as part of a broader protest against recent regulatory decisions, which ultimately amplified the mobilization and brought in taxi drivers who do not even operate directly at the airport.
The airport, epicenter of the protest
El Dorado International Airport, the country’s main air terminal and one of the busiest in Latin America, became the central stage of the conflict. Its strategic importance makes it especially vulnerable to any disruption in its access routes.
The blockades were mainly concentrated along El Dorado Avenue (26th Street), at key points such as 103rd and 110th avenues. In these stretches, protesters occupied entire lanes, causing severe congestion and prolonged delays.
At times, blockades were even reported at pedestrian entrances to the terminal, forcing intervention by riot police to restore access.
The impact was immediate. Passengers missed flights or had to walk long distances. Private drivers and public transportation were also caught in traffic jams along one of the city’s most important road corridors.
Authorities deployed a strong operation in the area to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control and to guarantee, as much as possible, access to the airport. However, the scale of the protest made a quick solution difficult.
The use of the airport as a pressure point is no coincidence. For the guild, blocking this access guarantees visibility and forces a faster institutional response. But for the city, the cost is high: disruptions to mobility, impacts on tourism, and risks to air operations.
Meanwhile, authorities have tried to mediate and clarify some of the disputed points, especially regarding the figures on criminal records. Nevertheless, tensions persist.
#BOGOTÁ. La manifestación que se presentó en la plataforma No. 1 del aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado culminó en enfrentamiento entre la UNDMO y los taxistas. Agentes civiles y la policía de tránsito brindan apoyo en la gestión del tránsito vehícular a lo largo de la Calle 26. https://t.co/yhjOYNeEAs pic.twitter.com/12gLuFBDgk
— Pasa en Bogotá | Sr Bacca🐮 (@PasaenBogota) April 9, 2026
An ongoing conflict
Taxi drivers’ protests in Bogota reflect a structural problem that goes beyond a single episode. It is a sector undergoing deep transformations, pressured by technological changes, new business models, and regulatory adjustments, in which any modification has significant effects on drivers’ income.
In this context, the airport is only the stage where these tensions converge. Economic interests, corporate decisions, and the struggle for control of a key market intersect there: passenger transport at one of the country’s most dynamic hubs, which has continued to grow in recent years with the massive arrival of tourists.
For now, the conflict remains unresolved. And as long as there are no clear agreements between the guild, companies, and authorities, the possibility of new protests—and new blockades at critical points such as El Dorado—remains latent.