After the Ruling: How Many New Ride Services Can Mallorca Handle?

After the Ruling: How Many New Ride Services Can Mallorca Handle?

Court opens the door for VTC providers — the island debates mobility, climate and working conditions

Key question: Who wins and who loses when dozens of new platforms bring passengers onto Mallorca's roads in a short period?

The latest ruling by the Balearic Supreme Court has meant that authorities must re-examine around 600 previously rejected VTC permit applications, as reported in Court forces Balearic government: 600 Uber licenses must be re-examined. In short: the legal hurdle has been lowered, at least procedurally. At the same time, providers like Bolt have signalled interest, and actions have been interpreted as precursors to Cabify's presence. This understandably unsettles taxi drivers, business owners and local politicians.

A look at the situation in Palma is revealing: early in the morning in front of the Mercado de l'Olivar, the smell of coffee mixes with the calls of produce sellers and the familiar clack of taxi signs. Even now, on quiet winter days, regular drivers wait for tourist fares; in summer, however, when the beaches are full and Son Sant Joan airport becomes a bottleneck, the picture changes. Platforms that are already active in Madrid and on the Costa del Sol — and run aggressive marketing campaigns — want to invest precisely in this high season.

Critical analysis: the court's decision concerns procedural errors in the rejection of applications — meaning the government must rejustify its decisions, not automatically approve them. In practice this means administrative processes will be reviewed for months, creating uncertainty for drivers and operators, and the question of public interest remains open. That's a problem area. Transport policy is not only competition law; it touches on traffic management, environmental goals, noise protection and urban order, issues that relate to proposals in New Taxi Rules in Mallorca: Caps, Ramps and the App — Will the Plan Match the Island's Rhythm?.

What is missing from the public discourse: first, the working conditions of drivers. Platforms advertise flexibility, but reality often shows fluctuating income and insecurity regarding social benefits. Second: the climate and traffic consequences. More vehicles on the roads do not necessarily mean fewer private cars; there can also be additional empty runs, increasing emissions and worsening parking situations. Third: the role of local infrastructure — waiting areas at the airport, drop-off zones in the old town and harbour — which have so far been designed for a more tightly regulated taxi system.

Concrete solutions that could work locally: 1) A staged licensing system: temporary, time-limited VTC permits for trial phases in certain zones (e.g. the airport, Platja de Palma) with clear conditions. 2) Quotas linked to environmental standards: additional licences only if fleets can prove they are lower-emission. 3) Transparency requirements: disclosure of prices, driver-matching algorithms and traceability of empty runs. 4) Minimum social standards: clear rules on social insurance, minimum wages or collectively negotiated minimum driving times. 5) Shared booking platforms or interfaces so that taxis and VTCs can coexist rather than block each other.

Everyday scene: on a hot July evening near the Paseo Marítimo, a discussion unfolds at the taxi rank — older drivers who have spent their lives driving taxis on Mallorca next to young migrants seeking flexible platform work. Both sets of interests are close to each other, and both have legitimate fears that need justification. Administrations and courts should take these seriously, instead of only rehashing procedures, in line with other rulings such as Judges in Palma strengthen passenger rights — a win with open questions.

What should be done immediately: the government must publish transparent criteria for the renewed reviews — traffic relief, environmental protection, public order, working conditions — and document decision steps. At the same time, municipalities should offer test zones where new providers can be assessed under budgetary and environmental conditions to see how supply and demand behave throughout the day. Finally: allocation criteria for high-demand points like the airport and harbour should be fair and transparent to avoid legal vacuums.

Conclusion: the court ruling is not a starting signal for an anarchic market opening, but a call for more precise political work. If we allow mobility to be determined solely by algorithms, we risk traffic chaos and poor working conditions — but with smart regulation we can combine consumer benefits with protections for workers and the urban landscape. Time is ticking: the island now needs rules, trials and dialogue instead of slogans and protest signs.