“Revenue also increased by the same percentage in the first six months. Demand for trips by coach rose against last year. Italy and Spain are still the main countries we ship passengers to,” said Daniel Micu, general manager of Atlassib. Micu mentioned the figures are in line with the budgeted levels.
Atlassib is owned by businessman Ilie Carabulea, detained under bribery charges in “Carpatica” file.
In 2013, Atlassib carried 600,000 passengers on trips to foreign destinations. The company generated revenue worth 253 million lei (EUR57.5 million) from RON260 million (EUR59 million) in 2012, according to Finance Ministry data. In 2013, the company saw its net profit rise seven times, to RON14.8 million (EUR3.4 million).
“Profit is falling, we will see the exact value at yearend. Because of competition from low-cost carriers we did not hike ticket prices, but our costs rose following the fuel excise duty hike, which will reflect in profit”.
The price of an Atlassib ticket for a one-way trip on the Bucharest-Valencia route stands at EUR90 (RON396) for late September. A plane ticket on this route starts from the same price of EUR90 at Wizz Air (not including the EUR25 tax for luggage of 32 kg at most). EUR90 plane tickets can also be found on the booking website of Blue Air.
In the case of a trip by plane, costs rise depending on the number of bags passengers carry. As a matter of fact, this is the element that can send Romanians to coaches, which have free transportation for two bags of up to 50 kg.
However, planes are winners in the battle with coaches in terms of trip duration. By coach, the Bucharest-Valencia trip lasts almost two days, while by plane passengers get to the destination in four hours.
Atlassib is the largest player on the international road passenger transport market both by revenue and fleet. The Sibiu-based company has 170 coaches in its fleet, operating on 37 external routes. Each year, the company buys ten coaches to renew its fleet.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)