The coach transport segment has been very severely affected by the current development. Logically, coronavirus was the topic dominating the Prague meeting of the GPN, associating 42 coach service operators from all around the world. “We are all concerned primarily about the safety of both our passengers and drivers. We agreed that compliance with strict hygiene measures and the system of regular checks of the health condition of drivers are essential now,” says the chairwoman of the GPN Agnes Pastuzsak.

The Members of the organisation employ thousands of drivers altogether. Nevertheless, no infection has been proved in any of them so far. Coach service operators rely on regular chemical cleaning of their coaches upon every exchange of passengers, continuous checks of the health condition of drivers and sufficient supply of disinfection materials and devices in every coach.

42 coach service operators from all over the world met in Prague

Coach service operators raised their concerns at the meeting about the economic impacts of coronavirus on their business. Increased precautionary measures imply a considerable increase in operational costs. However, the biggest problem is that tourism has been almost fully paralysed and school attendance has also been restricted in some countries. Delegates presented several possible options for further development, which will depend on how long crisis measures will last in individual countries. “It is evident that the longer the measures restricting international and suburban transport will take, the more the governments of national states will have to participate in their compensating,” explains Agnes Pastuzsak.

The representatives of coach service operators also agreed that it is necessary to pacify the situation and alleviate the general panic that is often disproportionate and leads to excessive economic loss suffered by coach service operators and other industrial sectors and services. “We are afraid of the often exaggerated safety measures taken in individual European countries rather than the coronavirus itself. If they continue being stepped up, it will have a fundamental impact not only on our business,” explains Pavel Steiner, the CEO of the Czech company Umbrella Mobility SE, which hosted the Prague meeting.

The Global Passenger Network is a global organisation of coach service operators securing premium services in the area of touring and incoming coach transport services. The organisation was established in 2006 and members of the GPN regularly meet twice a year in various countries of the world to respond to the global and local issues or regulations influencing their business.

The guests did a tour of Prague at the end of the meeting

Umbrella was established in 2004 and is one of the most significant partners of FlixBus, the German transport company, today, ensuring international coach services for it all over Europe. Furthermore, Umbrella is engaged in renting premium coaches for touring and incoming coach transport and provides custom turnkey services under the Umbrella Holiday trademark. Since 2019, it has also participated in securing the city and suburban transport in Hamburg under the Umbrella City Lines trademark, and last but not least rents ships and yachts under the Umbrella Yacht trademark. In February 2020, it acquired a 50% share in the RSBC investment group of the Czech financier Robert Schönfeld.