Long-distance coach attendance returned to its pre-Covid level in France in the first half of 2024 with more than 4.5 million travelers on domestic routes, the Transport Regulatory Authority (ART) said on Friday.
If we take international connections into account, “between 8 and 9 million passengers” used this mode of transport, according to the ART, an increase of 30% compared to before the pandemic.
The number of coach connections offered exceeds the pre-crisis level, with two main operators sharing the market: the German FlixBus and the French BlaBlaCar. On the other hand, the number of cities served remains lower than in 2019, with companies preferring “a denser network of connections on a more limited base of cities”, underlines the ART.
“The average occupancy rate per coach remains high,” the authority also indicates, with a level hovering around 60% in the first half. “The precise adaptation of supply to demand as well as the high international attendance are the factors favoring a high occupancy rate”, according to the ART.
On the other hand, revenue per passenger per 100 kilometers decreased by 10% over one year, to fall below six euros (5.4 euros). This is the “lowest level in two years”, affirms the ART.
However, “the turnover for the first half of 2024 remains stable over one year, thanks to the increase in attendance”, it is written in the press release. It represents “nearly 70 million euros”, a clear increase compared to the first half of 2019.
published on October 4 at 11:29 a.m., AFP
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