Addison Lee’s executive chauffeur service, marketed to Emirates business‑class passengers, has seen income evaporate since the Iran‑Israel war cut Dubai‑London traffic. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, which represents over 2,000 drivers, reports that the premium segment once provided 80‑90 % of earnings for hundreds of contractors. With fewer high‑fare airport transfers, drivers are scrambling for low‑value city fares.

Drivers now shoulder more than £1,000 a month in rent, insurance and mandatory weekly cleaning, while fuel costs have surged since hostilities began. One Luton‑based chauffeur recalled that a single pre‑war week could net close to £1,000, but recent weeks have left him with barely £500. The union says many are returning keys and demanding deposits back as Addison Lee stalls on relief.

Addison Lee argues its overall demand stays resilient, pointing to strong domestic corporate travel and a waiting list of new drivers. Chief executive Patrick Gallagher has trimmed fare‑target thresholds for bonuses and highlighted a partnership with Shell that offers discounted petrol and EV charging, citing the hybrid fleet’s lower exposure to price spikes. The squeeze on executive‑service drivers underscores how geopolitical shocks can ripple through ancillary transport markets.