Independent taxi drivers in Loiu, meaning those not affiliated with any dispatch or association, have expressed concern over the management of the summer service. The warning issued by the Airport Taxi Association, threatening to report drivers who pick up passengers outside their assigned shifts, has not been well-received within the sector. The current regulation, established by the Foral Decree of 2000, stipulates that only taxis from 14 municipalities (the ten with the largest populations, plus Erandio, Sondika, and Zamudio) are permitted to operate at the aerodrome.

This year, the Provincial Council has not organized the summer service reinforcements. This is due to an appeal filed by the sector against the 2025 Foral Decree and criticism from the Basque Competition Authority, which pointed out that the selection of taxis for Loiu did not consider criteria of publicity or competitive bidding. Consequently, the airport taxi association has taken on the responsibility and announced that, starting June 1st, they will photograph and report to the Department of Transport any taxis operating outside their designated shifts.

Legal representatives of the independent taxi drivers emphasize that this is a public service and that private dispatchers and associations cannot dictate who works or who doesn't. "The Provincial Council must do this, through a foral decree, and not leave it in the hands of private groups," they state. They find it paradoxical that the Department of Transport acknowledges the regulation is under judicial review, yet associations are now setting the criteria and announcing they will act as police, reporting other colleagues.

The Basque Competition Authority already reprimanded the Department of Transport last summer following a complaint from the Urduliz City Council. In its ruling, it censured the failure to comply with the principles of "publicity, objectivity, impartiality, transparency, and competitive bidding." The authority recommended that the provincial entity regulate the special zones of the airport, the BEC (Bilbao Exhibition Centre), and the cruise terminal to "improve the service," including the "creation of new licenses, more adapted vehicles, and the promotion of joint service areas."

The lawyers for the taxi drivers who have appealed last year's decree criticize the Airport Taxi Association for announcing they would seek "help from other associations" if they were overwhelmed. In a recent message, they indicated that there was "a peak in work between 3 PM and 5 PM and those near the airport could come to pick up passengers." "What's happening? Are the majority of taxis now going to concentrate nearby to get a fare? It's absurd. It needs to be regulated properly," they comment, adding that "this is not an acceptable criterion."