The traditional taxi drivers, who do not require an app for their services, are protesting against what they consider to be unfair competition from companies relying on customers ordering taxis on their smartphones, which have faced a number of legal challenges in France. Uber drivers are people who have cars and driving licenses. Unlike traditional taxi drivers they do not have to pay taxes. In fact, every user of the Uber app can offer taxi services.

Police have arrested 20 people as striking taxi drivers staged protests across France over competition from non-traditional car services such as Uber.

At least 2,000 taxi drivers protested on Tuesday, disrupting traffic across France, including around Paris airports and national railway stations

French taxi drivers together with their colleagues from other European countries are protesting against services that offer the VTC (transport vehicle with chauffeur). The services are provided by such companies as Uber, Allocab, Chauffeur-Prive, Clinq-S, Marcel, SnapCar etc.

Among the protesters were teachers, doctors, air traffic controllers, hospital workers, public-sector workers and farmers who were demanding better prices for livestock. One in five flights were cancelled at Paris airports and other flights faced delays as controllers staged a walkout over changes to how salaries are calculated.

On the photo: Anti-riots policemen are standing next to a fire during a taxi drivers demonstration against the VTC.

On the photo: Taxi drivers block the traffic during a demonstration against the VTC (transport vehicle with chauffeur).

On the photo: An anti-riot policeman is standing during a demonstration against the VTC (transport vehicle with chauffeur) on the ring road at Porte Maillot in Paris.