Council closes licensing investigation after union complaint around TfL Uber cars working at Gatwick Airport
Crawley Borough Council has closed its investigation into complaints about Uber’s operations at Gatwick Airport, concluding that the company is not in breach of licensing laws.
The inquiry, launched after a complaint from Unite the Union, found that Uber’s activities at the airport comply with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, and no enforcement action will be taken.
The investigation followed concerns raised by Unite, which represents private hire drivers working for Airport Cars Gatwick, the airport’s official private hire concession holder. The union alleged that Uber was making provisions for the invitation and acceptance of bookings within Crawley Borough, an area where its drivers are not licensed. Concerns also centred on Uber-branded signage, a designated pick-up zone, and the app’s “virtual rank” system, which organises bookings.
According to a report released, council officers undertook a detailed examination of Uber’s operating model at Gatwick, which included site visits, interviews with stakeholders, and test purchases to assess how bookings were assigned. Observations confirmed that Uber’s system allocates rides through its app, with all bookings processed under Uber London’s operator licence. This means that all journeys are assigned to Transport for London (TfL) licensed drivers and vehicles, making them legally compliant.
The presence of Uber branding at Gatwick, including signage directing passengers to pick-up points, was also reviewed. The council found that while Uber’s visibility at the airport had increased, the signage itself did not invite customers to book rides. Instead, it was deemed to be wayfinding material, helping passengers locate pre-arranged rides. This distinction is key, as the law states that an operator may advertise outside its licensed area, provided bookings are made through a properly licensed system.
Unite argued that Uber’s practices effectively constituted an illegal booking operation within Crawley’s jurisdiction. However, legal advice sought by the council from barrister Philip Kolvin KC found no basis for enforcement. Kolvin QC added Uber is not operating unlawfully, and any attempt to prosecute the company would fail.
The case highlights the ongoing challenge of regulating private hire services in the digital age. Uber and similar app-based companies operate under a framework that allows cross-border hiring, where drivers licensed in one area can accept bookings elsewhere, as long as the trio of licences—operator, driver, and vehicle—are valid.
The council acknowledged that the current regulatory framework does not fully reflect modern app-based booking systems. However, it also stated that any changes to the law must come from Parliament. Crawley Borough Council has already written to the Government to raise concerns over cross-border hiring, but no response has been received.
Despite the report outcome, Unite remains critical of Uber’s growing presence at Gatwick and its impact on local drivers. The union argues that the competition from Uber, combined with its aggressive branding and pick-up zones, undermines the airport’s official private hire concession and affects the income of drivers licensed by Crawley Borough Council.
With no legal basis for enforcement, the council has formally closed the investigation. It has stated that any future complaints about private hire operations at Gatwick will need to go through its standard licensing and complaints processes.
While Uber’s expansion at Gatwick is lawful under existing regulations, the case has reignited the debate over whether the current licensing system needs reform.
