Attendance on “Macron coaches” recorded an increase of “at least 5%” in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2019, before the Covid health crisis, the Transport Regulatory Authority reported on Wednesday ( ART).
“The market for freely organized coaches, commonly called “Macron coaches”, continues its post-Covid recovery in the first half despite high prices,” ART underlines in a press release.
During this period, more than 3.8 million passengers were transported on domestic lines by these coaches and, due to “dynamic” assistance on international lines, “there are more than 6.5 million passengers in total, or at least “5% more” than in the first half of 2019, specifies the ART.
65 billion euros of income for the sector
The authority also reports “an increase in revenue per mile compared to 2019”, estimating that this “could indicate less competitive pressure among operators.”
The average income was “above 6 euros per passenger per 100 kilometers” in the first half of the year, an increase of 55% compared to the same half of 2019, “well above the evolution of prices in France (+14 .6%)” since this period, details the ART.
In total, according to the authority, the sector’s turnover “exceeded 65 million euros” in the first half of the year, an increase of 20% compared to the same half of 2019.
Referring to the Paris-Bercy bus station, which must close after the 2024 Olympic Games, the ART considers that the closure of this station, where “around 30% of the passengers” of freely organized coaches pass, ” could jeopardize the sustainability of this market if no solution was found.”
Noting that this “first bus station in France” offers travelers “insufficient” services, the authority states that it will study “with interested parties solutions” so that these coaches “can continue to serve the capital in satisfactory conditions.”
In Paris, it is “the only high-capacity intramural bus station,” notes ART.
Source: BFM TV
