Panel SA: Charter bus companies meet, and deputy asks for parliamentary front

The road travel market is on the move.

After a group of chartered bus companies launched an association this Monday (11) to defend their vision of the market in partnership with startups as a counterpoint to traditional companies, federal deputy Márcio Labre (PL – RJ) asked the Chamber of Deputies to creation of a mixed parliamentary front in defense of the so-called collaborative charter companies.

According to him, the idea is to define a regulatory framework for the sector and end restrictions that make it difficult for companies to work together with the association.

One of the main demands will be the end of the so-called closed circuit of interstate transport, in which the passenger is prevented from purchasing only one of the parts of the trip.

“The closed circuit creates a very big problem for tourism, because it forces the charterer to have the same passengers on the return trip. He is not free to take different groups. It is a very big impediment to the performance and growth of this market “, says Labre.

According to him, signatures in support of the creation of the parliamentary front should be collected from this Tuesday (12). He says that the matter has support among the deputies.

Named Abrafrec, the new association opens its activities with more than 200 members, who provide services to travel agencies and platforms such as Buser and FlixBus. 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.

The background of this movement is the old arm wrestling of traditional bus companies that accuse startups of unfair competition and not following regulation.

Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter