The passenger transport industry is facing a worrying period as several mobility companies tighten budgets and re-evaluate their security measures after the pandemic. In recent years, investment in mobility services and the procurement of new vehicles have run into headwinds, with a number of operators ultimately exiting the market. Last year alone, 384 companies disappeared from the sector’s map, underscoring the fragility of a market still adjusting to postpandemic realities and shifting demand patterns.
Rising inflation, elevated fuel costs, and price freezes on many school transport contracts contributed to a 12% downturn in overall sector revenues. This assessment comes from the Road Passenger Transport Observatory and is reflected in the Supply and Demand 2023 report, compiled by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. In response, industry leaders urge government action to implement a plan that stabilizes the market and protects public mobility options for communities that rely on bus service.
Within the association of SMEs in the bus passenger transport sector, which includes 850 partner companies, there is a clear call to overcome outdated practices that hinder survival. The president of Anetra, Louis Pedrero, stresses that remaining discretionary service seats and sales at intermediate stops along international routes cannot be left unaddressed. He asks government representatives and parliamentary groups to consider the sector’s vulnerabilities and to engage in solutions that ensure continuity of service and employment. The concern is not merely about profits; it is about keeping essential routes viable and affordable for passengers who depend on reliable bus transportation.
The image of a bus operator named Teisa is part of the sector’s everyday reality, illustrating the close ties between community mobility and regional services that connect towns, schools, and workplaces. Pedrero views the Sustainable Mobility Law as a potential turning point that could help remove a perceived anachronism within the current regulatory framework. He believes the 1987 law, which remains in force in many discussions, does not align with modern needs for a sustainable and ecological mobility model. The challenge extends beyond domestic borders, as similar restrictions exist in other European contexts. Spain, for example, has limitations on selling tickets for intermediate stops on international lines while several neighboring countries permit such practices under certain conditions—an inconsistency that Pedrero and the association cite as a legal misalignment that harms competitiveness and service coverage.
In addition to regulatory reform, the association highlights the ongoing struggle with market dynamics that influence route viability. A dramatic reduction in passenger numbers since 2009 remains a central concern, with passenger volumes decreasing from around 45 million to approximately 30 million by 2019, a trend corroborated by the ministry’s data. The industry is calling for swift policy changes to reestablish confidence and restore passenger flow. They advocate for a framework that allows buses with unused seats to be operated with clear, compliant rules, ensuring safety, accountability, and fair competition. The push also draws attention to the growth of car sharing, which, from their perspective, operates with fewer constraints than conventional bus services. The goal is to curb a process that is harming traditional bus operators and, by extension, the families and communities they serve. These concerns are presented as a plea to halt further damage to the sector and to preserve the broader ecosystem that makes public transportation a dependable option for millions of travelers.