Panel SA: Charter bus companies come together in association to defend model

In the wake of the old arm wrestling between traditional bus companies that accuse startups of doing unfair competition and not following regulation, companies that work with charter will come together in a new association to defend their vision of the market.

The group launches this Monday (11) the entity called Abrafrec (Brazilian Association of Collaborative Charterers), which starts activities with more than 200 members.

The goal is to double the number of members in the next six months and reach a fleet of 5,000 buses, according to Marcelo Nunes, president of the association.

These are companies that provide services to travel agencies and platforms such as Buser and FlixBus, which are advancing in the Brazilian market.

Nunes says that the association’s main agenda will be free competition in the road transport market, and that he has already talked to representatives of the federal and state governments on the subject.

“The owners of the highway bus monopoly say that it is not possible for the highway lines granted to coexist with the collaborative charter sales platforms. The association is organizing to show that we only want freedom of work”, he says.

Nunes argues that there is pent-up demand for the service of collaborative charter companies. “I understand that the bus line has its value, but the reality is different. Young people want the app, they don’t want to go to the bus station”, he says.

According to him, the idea is also to promote collective purchases of parts for vehicles and diesel oil, to reduce costs, especially for small companies, in addition to guaranteeing cooperative insurance for members.

Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter