The British group Mobico, parent company of Alsa, highlights that it has never lost a long-distance contract in Spain and wins 95% of tenders when it is the incumbent operator. The company benefits from concessions and programs like Verano Joven.
The British group Mobico, parent company of Alsa, has once again boasted about its position in the Spanish long-distance bus market. In its results presentation, its executives emphasised that the company has never lost a contract of this type in Spain and that, when acting as the incumbent operator, it secures around 95% of the tenders. The information, reported by merca2.es, reflects the multinational's confidence in the concession model maintained by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
The CEO of Mobico, Phil White, made it clear in the results presentation for the second half of 2026: "Of course, we have not lost a single long-distance contract in our entire history in Spain." White also noted that long-distance revenues account for 17% of the company's total and that, although margins are reduced in the tender processes, they are later recovered with the increase in passengers.
In the most recent presentation, the Chief Financial Officer of Mobico Group, Brian Egan, insisted on 29 July that "when we are the incumbent operator, we secure around 95% of long-distance contracts." These statements downplay the potential reopening of Spanish tenders, which could occur in the coming months depending on court decisions. Meanwhile, Alsa and its parent company continue to operate on routes with expired tenders.
This situation allows the company to benefit from public promotions and discounts, such as the Verano Joven programme. White himself highlighted a few weeks ago that this initiative, reactivated in Spain last month, is already generating volumes higher than the previous year, although he did not provide specific figures.
The contrast with the British market is notable. In the results presentation for the second quarter of 2026, revenues from the long-distance bus division in the UK, owned by National Express, fell by 16.7% due to a decrease in passengers and yields, as well as the selective reduction of unprofitable routes. In contrast, Alsa improved its revenues by 13.7% and remains the main driver of recovery for its British parent company.
The company faces a delicate scenario if a change in Spanish policy unlocks the long-distance bus liberalisation process. For now, maintaining the concession model makes Alsa the favourite when a new route opens to competition.
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