Passenger traffic on the OASA Group’s Mass Transport is moving at pre-pandemic rates, with citizens choosing them again for their journeys. According to OASA data from the beginning of the year, passenger traffic in Mass Transport approaches 90% of pre-pandemic levels, marking a continuous upward trend and exceeding 1 million passengers daily. In addition, the latest passenger satisfaction survey shows an increase in confidence in Public Transport.

In particular, the citizens and visitors of Athens are gradually returning to their pre-covid habits, using the expanded network of Athens Transport for their movements.

Based on the findings of the survey, the Metro remains the most popular and most reliable means of transport in the opinion of passengers, showing an increase in the satisfaction rate. An improvement is also observed in road transport with blue buses and trolleybuses being rated significantly better than in 2021. With regard to electric (Line 1), the survey showed that there is a marginal improvement in passenger satisfaction, while for the tram it is recorded a relative drop in the degree of satisfaction, the opinion of the passenger public remains positive.

Both loyal users of public transport and passengers who turn to urban transport, as OASA officials note, find significant advantages, as well as improved services:

* The price of the ticket remains at a competitive price, with the support of the State, despite the significant increases in energy and fuel that make it unprofitable to travel by car.

* The extension of the Metro network to Line 3 which now has 27 stations and connected the Athens airport with the country’s largest port.

* The Tram fleet was strengthened with the addition of 25 new latest generation trains from December 2021 and the network was extended to Piraeus, offering upgraded services.

* The number of available buses and trolleybuses was increased to more than 1,200 vehicles and the function of passenger information (telematics) was extended to all lines. The possibility was thus given for a greater frequency of routes and a wider coverage of the areas of the basin with more direct and improved information.

* Additional ticket offices were opened in the Metro and new ticket offices were created at central points of the bus and trolley network, increasing the number of passenger service points.

As the managing director of OASA, Giorgos Spiliopoulos, told the Athens Agency: “Athens Transport works every day to upgrade services, while at the same time planning important initiatives to serve the citizen and improve travel conditions. In this context, Metro Line 1 trains are gradually being renovated, the infrastructure and services for disabled and disabled people are being improved, and studies and research are being prepared for the restructuring of the bus and trolley network and services.

Increase in transactions at automatic machines with bank cards – Enhancement of online purchases from the OASA website

There is a significant increase in the transactions of the passenger public at Automatic Card Issuing Machines (AMEK) with bank cards. The passenger public is familiar with the use of bank cards in urban transport since an increase of 43% is recorded in 2022 from 34% that was in 2021. In other words, almost one in two transactions are carried out with bank cards at automatic machines.

Also, a remarkable increase is recorded in the market of mobility products via the Internet. The new, user-friendly environment of the OASA website (www.oasa.gr), is gaining the acceptance of the passenger public, with the expanded possibilities of information and online purchase of products.

In particular, the internet shows the largest increase in receipts of all other sales channels, with an increase of 92.6% in 2022 compared to 2021.

The dominant products in online transactions are the 30-day ATH.ENA card with 23.9%, followed by the 10 + 1 route multiple ticket with 20.8%.