MADRID, 19 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Alsa increased its income by 33% in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period of the previous year, due in part to the free vouchers for frequent passengers for use on some long-distance lines throughout Spain.

This is how it appears in the market update released by its parent company, the British National Express, which details that the increase in Alsa's turnover is limited to 26% if the currency effect is taken into account.

"Long-distance routes continue to evolve positively, driven by the effect of the free travel initiative in Spain and by the greater progress in activity before the Easter holiday period," the company explained.

Likewise, operations also evolved positively throughout this period in the rest of the markets in which Alsa operates, such as in Morocco, driven by its contracts in Rabat and Casablanca, and in Portugal, where its service will begin next November in Porto.

For its part, the parent company, National Express, registered a 17% increase in its income in constant currency exchange, up to 774 million pounds (880 million euros), in line with forecasts.

"I am pleased to report another quarter of progress at National Express with revenue in line with expectations, albeit affected by the UK bus drivers' strike, and recognizing that the most important business periods for our US school bus are now. The US, the UK and Spain are still to come," said the CEO of National Express, Ignacio Garat.

Given the ongoing industry and economic uncertainties, the company has launched a wide-ranging cost reduction and productivity improvement program, with which it expects to turn a profit in the second half of this year.