A second strike by Montreal airport taxi drivers protesting rising fees was underway Friday. A majority of the 550 drivers who are authorized to work at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport weren’t on the premises. Drivers, who first picketed on Aug. 21, said the fees are imposed by Taxelco Inc., a company that operates different taxi banners and manages taxi services at the airport. Some of the drivers who were present told CTV News that many were afraid to show up to the strike because they were concerned about how Taxelco would react, so instead of protesting, they decided not to show up. The service agreement between Taxelco and the airport has been in place since May 2025. Drivers say that they have been hit with higher fees and additional charges such as signage on their cars, with some paying thousands of dollars each month to continue working at the airport. Rahim Rashidi, a spokesperson for the Montreal Airport Taxi Drivers Association who was present during the strike, said drivers are feeling the pressure. “I know this lane, how it works. I know sometimes the full five lanes are full of taxis, and you’ve got almost 300 passengers waiting in line. All we see here is not even 20 taxis,” he said, commenting on the scene at the airport. In a statement, the airport authority said the strike had no impact on operations. It explained that it moved from a lottery-based system that allocated 400 permits to independent permit holders to a service contract awarded to a single provider responsible for all taxi operations, except accessible transportation. “This operating model, introduced as part of the major construction projects planned across the airport site through 2035, helps ADM (Aeroport de Montreal) operate more efficiently while ensuring high-quality transportation services for passengers.” The Montreal Airport Taxi Drivers Association has also filed a class-action lawsuit against Taxelco Inc. challenging its exclusive management of airport access. In a written statement, Taxelco Inc. said the company was aware of the protest. “Since the matter involves issues that are now before the courts, Taxelco will not make any further comments on this subject at this time.”
