Alsa aumenta significativamente su facturación en Marruecos durante el primer trimestre
Spanish transport company Alsa has presented a brilliant balance sheet for the first quarter of 2022 with remarkable financial results. The bus company has certified an important boom in revenues during the first three months of the year, mainly supported by the markets of Morocco and Spain.
The company's activity in the North African country during the first quarter has yielded very positive figures. Its business turnover grew by 21% in Morocco, with routes such as Rabat and Tangier, which have registered record passenger numbers, according to the media La Información and Rue20.
In addition, Alsa, as a major benchmark for road transport in Spain, has recorded a year-on-year increase of 53% in its revenues during the first quarter of 2022 in reference to its global activity.
These data certify a remarkable recovery after the pandemic as they are figures that are on a par with those of 2019, the year before the outbreak of the coronavirus health crisis around the world that caused the tragedy of confinements, social isolation and the stoppage of much of the economic activities throughout the length and breadth of the globe. Revenues in the first three months of 2022 have been similar to those of three years ago, with 3.2 billion euros, and an accumulation of financial reserves of about 1.5 billion euros.
The favourable situation is expected to continue throughout the year thanks to the return to greater normality due to the relaxation of social protection measures linked to the fight against COVID-19 and to a strong reactivation of the tourism sector stemming from this new normality and the withdrawal of certain restrictive measures. In addition, Portugal will join Spain and Morocco in the area of operation of the company of Asturian origin, which is now integrated into the parent company of the British company National Express.
Noteworthy among the current positive figures is long-distance bus occupancy, which was 70% at the start of this year, up from 72% in 2019.
"The solid recovery in our bus business, both in the UK and Spain, shows the pent-up demand for travel, which was evident over Easter. The cost of living crisis is starting to affect many people and our bus services offer an attractive low-cost travel alternative to help offset higher prices on other products or services," National Express CEO Ignacio Garat was quoted as saying by La Información.
The situation of the transport company is stable and it has a solid base to continue with the economic recovery, thanks in part to its structure, which has a fleet of 4,495 buses and a team of more than 14,500 workers who provide service to more than 300 million passengers a year, according to the company's own corporate data.
In parallel to its development in Spain, Alsa has carried out an intense internationalisation process that has led it to be present in most EU countries, in the Kingdom of Morocco and, recently, in Puerto Rico.
