“Italy is the most important market. 40% of the passengers we carry go to Italy and the second major market, bringing us 30% of passengers, is Germany,” Micu stated.
Since the start of the year, demand for trips to Spain has posted a slight rebound, according to the company’s representative. Though British labor market restrictions were lifted, Great Britain did not attract a significant flow of Romanians. “We only have two coaches going to Great Britain per week, while to Italy we send as many as ten coaches per day,” stated Daniel Micu.
Atlassib, owned by businessman Ilie Carabulea (detained under bribery charges in “Carpatica” file, in 2013 carried around 600,000 persons on routes abroad and for 2014 expects a slight increase of 2-3%. The company has a 170-coach fleet operating on 37 external lines.
In 2012, the company generated revenue of 260 million lei (EUR59 million), profit of RON2.8 million (around EUR640,000) with 1,412 employees, according to Finance Ministry data. Official 2013 figures have not been published, but the company’s head says revenue rose by 3%.
The company bought ten coaches to renew its fleet.
The largest ten private operators on the road passenger transport market had total revenue of EUR163 million and 3,300 employees in 2012, according to a ZF survey based on Trade Registry data and data from the National Union of Road Transporters in Romania (UNTRR).
Passenger transporters operating on international routes compete with low-cost carriers that operate most flights to Italy and Spain.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)