More Buses in Palma: More Vehicles Rolling at the Start of the School Year

More Buses, Less Crowding: Palma's Public Transport Responds to the Start of the School Term

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The morning in Palma looked different today. Along Avinguda Jaume III and at Plaça de Cort there were fewer crowded stops, because the bus company quickly deployed additional vehicles. A total of 191 buses are now in operation – 13 more than last year and 37 more than 2019. For commuters and students, that means noticeably more space.

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Where it is happening

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Particularly noticeable: Lines 5, 7 and 8 have been increased. During the morning peak hours, buses there now run every five minutes according to the timetable. Additionally, several connections to schools and the university have been strengthened – those heading toward the campus and vocational schools should need less patience at the ticket vending machines.

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The transport authority explains that the number of trips has been increased by about a third compared with previous years. It may sound like bureaucratic jargon, but for most parents it feels simply more practical: less crowding, more on-time service.

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How this translates into everyday life

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Parents at the stop near Avenida de Mallorca report that between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. there are finally seats available again. A bus driver who has been driving line 7 for years dryly commented: You can tell when school time starts again – otherwise the youngsters are packed like sardines.

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Of course, there is still potential for conflict: important stops such as Plaça d'Espanya or the entrance to the city hospital still see heavily used trips. But on the first day of school with the new service, the mood was relaxed, many students with new backpacks and headphones in their ears.

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What this means for the rest of the year

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Whether the extra buses will stay permanently remains to be seen. The transport company emphasizes that it is monitoring usage in the coming weeks. If passenger numbers stay stable, the new frequencies could serve as a model for the coming months – a small breathing space for commuters and families in Palma.

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Conclusion: It sounds uneventful, but it isn’t. A few additional buses can provide real relief in the morning. And let's be honest: arriving at school with five minutes less of waiting time makes the day start a bit better.