StreetCars has confirmed it has secured a temporary extension to its airport operating arrangements until 31 March, following Uber being awarded a multi-million-pound private hire concession at Manchester Airport. The extension allows StreetCars’ existing operating arrangements to remain fully in place while airport transition plans linked to Uber’s new contract are finalised.
DM News previously revealed that Uber had secured the Manchester Airport private hire concession, triggering significant uncertainty for incumbent operators and drivers operating at the airport work
StreetCars Email That Got Forwarded to DM News:
Dear Team,
Just a quick follow-up to my email below.
I wanted to share an important update: we have successfully negotiated an extension with the Airport until 31st March, which means our current operating arrangements remain fully in place until then. This gives us all stability while we continue planning the next steps together.
This update is just for everyone’s awareness, and there is nothing you need to do differently for now.
If you haven’t booked your 1-to-1 meeting yet, please make sure to do so:
(Email Link)
(You can bring another Airport driver with you if you prefer, and we will run a 2-to-1.)
StreetCars Management
DM News Commentary
The timing of this extension is not coincidental. As previously reported by DM News, Uber’s successful bid for the Manchester Airport private hire concession has reshaped the operating landscape at the airport. Transitional extensions like this are commonly used to prevent immediate disruption while airports restructure access, permits, and operational control under a new concession holder.
For StreetCars drivers, the extension offers short-term breathing space, but it also confirms what many already suspected — that current arrangements are temporary and tied to the wider Uber-led transition.
The request for 1-to-1 and 2-to-1 meetings suggests StreetCars management is attempting to manage individual driver concerns ahead of potentially difficult decisions later in the year. Drivers will understandably want clarity on:
- Whether StreetCars will retain any airport presence after March
- How driver numbers may be affected
- Whether new access fees or restrictions will be introduced
- How Uber’s concession will be enforced in practice
Across the UK, airport private hire drivers are increasingly caught in the middle of large concession deals negotiated without driver consultation, often leaving them with little notice and few alternatives.
This extension avoids immediate disruption — but it also confirms that change is coming, and drivers should use the coming weeks to get answers, explore options, and prepare for multiple outcomes.
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