Stagecoach back at the wheel as passengers return to buses

Stagecoach profits have risen again as passengers return to buses, but the over-60s are staying away despite their free travel benefits.

Britain’s largest bus and coach operator has benefited from government-backed schemes to boost public transport use after the pandemic, such as free travel for children under 22 in Scotland.

In January 2023, a £2 cap on rates was introduced across the UK to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis. This cap was extended until the end of this year.

The strong performance of its regional bus division helped the Perth-based group’s operating profit rise by a third to £97.3m on revenue of £1.6bn in the year to April 2024, up 16 per cent.

Passenger numbers are “almost” back to pre-pandemic levels, CEO Claire Miles said, but “older passengers who thought there was a high risk of catching Covid on a bus… are more reluctant to return.”

The profit increase came despite Stagecoach’s London arm making a loss of £8.5m, which the company blamed on driver shortages and wage pressures.