Eurolines sees 10% drop in transport revenues

Eurolines group, controlled by businessman Dragos Anastasiu, ended last year with 26% lower revenues from international passenger transport operations, plane ticket sales and other travel services.

Thus, the group generated turnover worth 26 million euros, down from 35.5 million euros in the previous year, according to company officials.

"Whereas sales went down last year, as regards EBITDA, we registered growth. We ended with 7m RON (1.7m euros), up from the previous year, when we had 5.7 million RON (1.5m euros)," stated Dragos Anastasiu.

The businessman says he budgeted 10% higher turnover for the entire group for this year.

In the group's turnover, passenger transport operations hold the biggest weight, almost half. The number of passengers transported by coach abroad fell by almost 24% last year, to 98,500 persons. "This year, though, we expect a slight increase in the number of passengers, by almost 5%, amid the revival of European markets. Practically, workforce demand is starting to pick up abroad".

The most popular destinations among Romanians travelling abroad are Germany (accounting for 38% of total demands), France (18%), Spain (10%), Italy (10%), the Czech Republic (7%), Benelux (6%), and Switzerland (5%).

Eurolines' main rival on the segment of transport by coach is Atlassib, owned by businessman Ilie Carabulea of Sibiu. The operator also coped with falling passenger traffic, carrying 10% fewer passengers last year from 2008, according to the latest statements by the company's officials.

Revenues on the segment of coach transport dropped on lower traffic triggered by the crisis, and on competition from low-cost carriers.