Thanks to the “seating programme” the coach operators has received nearly one billion crowns

18/12/2020Press releases

The Ministry of Transport already has outcomes of the COVID-BUS programme to support coach operators, since the coach industry was significantly affected by the decrease of demand due to the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly CZK 1 billion on the accounts of thousands of companies helps to solve the situation concerning costs of 3,486 vehicles. Those, who applied for the support, fulfilled the programme conditions and have business in compliance with the rules, succeeded.

Thanks to the “seating programme” the coach operators has received nearly one billion crowns

„Together with carriers’ representatives, association ČESMAD BOHEMIA and initiative Za autobusy, we were able to organise a quick support for coach transport and send nearly CZK 1 billion to save this industry. Already after two days after closing submission of applications, i.e. on 27 November, nearly all of 1,054 received applications were processed. Most applicants succeeded and they should have the money on their accounts by now”, said minister of transport Karel Havlíček.

Support in a total amount of CZK 932.5 million was approved to 3,486 vehicles. The Ministry of Transport sent all financial resource to the recipients between 5 November and 14 December. Only a handful of applicants failed to reach the support, specifically 27 applications. These concerned carriers without a licence or their buses did not comply with the support conditions, such as emission standard.

“If the application was not successful, we have always explained the next steps and pointed out the possibility to send a new application after correction. That is the reason behind such a low number of rejected applications. Everyone, who could provide remedy, were successful after filing a new application”, explains the director of road transport department of the ministry Pavol Baran.

Through the COVID-BUS programme, the Ministry of Transport supported the entrepreneurs in irregular bus transport to help them overcome the market crisis during the pandemic. The support will help them to adjust to the market until the end of the first quarter of 2021. The amount of the support derived from the bus emission standard (higher emission standard = lower impact on the environment = higher purchase price of the bus) and took into account the capacity of the bus itself.

Foto: autobusova-doprava-Praha.cz