Alsa increases its income by 33% in the first quarter |

Alsa increased its income by 33% in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period of the previous year, due in part to the free vouchers for frequent passengers for use on some long-distance lines throughout Spain.

“Long-distance routes continue to evolve positively, driven by the effect of the free travel initiative in Spain and by the greater progress in activity before the Easter holiday period,” the company explained.

In this way, operations also evolved positively throughout this period in the rest of the markets in which it operates Alsasuch as in Morocco, driven by its contracts in Rabat and Casablanca, and in Portugal, where it will start its service in Porto next November.

For its part, the parent company, National Express, registered a 17% increase in its income in constant currency exchange, up to 774 million pounds (880 million euros), in line with forecasts. However, given the ongoing industry and economic uncertainties, the company has launched a far-reaching cost reduction and productivity improvement program, with which it expects to turn a profit in the second half of this year.

For this reason, the CEO of National Express, Ignacio Garat points out that “I am pleased to report another quarter of progress at National Express with revenues in line with expectations, although affected by the bus drivers’ strike in the United Kingdom, and recognizing that the most important trading periods for our US, UK and Spanish school bus are yet to come.”