The Ministry of Housing, Territory, and Mobility of the Government of the Balearic Islands, via the Majorcan Transport Consortium (CTM), has reported that in the initial four months of 2024, from January to April, nearly 6.5 million passengers used the TIB bus service. This figure reflects a significant surge of 42.2% in passenger numbers compared to the same period in 2023, when free travel on all public transport was already implemented.
In the first four months of this year, there was an increase of over 1.9 million passengers compared to the same period in 2023, from 4.5 million to almost 6.5 million. This 42% surge in demand for TIB network buses occurred between two periods when free transportation had already been implemented for users traveling with the Intermodal Card.
At present, the TIB interurban transport network connects the different municipalities and areas of Mallorca with 71 bus lines. In order to meet the growing demand, both in the winter season and for the new summer service, reinforcement measures have been taken, mainly focusing on increasing frequencies on the busiest lines.
During the winter season, from 1 November to 21 March, the TIB network was reinforced with the addition of 27 bus lines compared to the previous winter, an improvement of 53% of the total number of lines operating during this period. Likewise, this year's summer season saw an earlier start to service, on 22 March, compared to the previous high season.
For the summer season, frequencies have been increased on a total of 24 bus lines, resuming service on 16 lines and adding a new line (131) in Serra de Tramuntana, between Santa Ponça, Banyalbufar and La Granja de Esporles.
Ten new compressed natural gas buses are expected to join the TIB's current sustainable fleet in the coming weeks, allowing for an expansion of the existing bus fleet. which currently has 201 CNG buses and 18 electric buses in operation.
Regarding the reinforcements adopted for the summer season, in the Ponent area, the nuclei of Palmanova and Magaluf (line 104) now enjoy improved connectivity with services every 15 minutes in each direction. Additionally, compared to last summer, there's an improved service in the tourist area of Costa de la Calma, nearly doubling the connectivity with Palma and Santa Ponça, with a new frequency of 25 minutes.
In the north of Mallorca, the late night service on the Alcúdia-Can Picafort suburban line (324) has been reinforced, with a stable frequency of 12-13 minutes after midnight; line 302 has been improved compared to 2023 by increasing the frequency to one bus every 20 minutes at peak times and extending the service until 0.10 am to guarantee the return home of hotel and restaurant workers; and in the centre of Cala Sant Vicenç, line 321 has brought forward the daily start of service to 7.10 am.
On the Llevant coast, the Cales de Mallorca line (416) has increased its services by 50% since the end of March, and in the Migjorn area the Campos-Palma express line (501) has been added throughout the day. With regard to the Aerotib lines that connect with Palma airport, the A32 and A42 lines have increased their services by 10% compared to the summer of 2023.