Airport buses run in winter for the first time — how to reach the holiday resorts cheaply

Airport buses run in winter for the first time — how to reach the holiday resorts cheaply

More connections, less stress: what the new winter arrangement brings

On Mallorca something rattles this autumn that many only know from the high season: the regular Aerotib bus service information from the airport even in the cooler months. For the first time there is a real winter timetable that reliably connects tourist destinations and smaller towns to Son Sant Joan; more details are covered in Autobuses del aeropuerto circulan por primera vez también en invierno: así llega barato a los destinos vacacionales. For travelers and commuters this means less taxi hunting in the arrivals hall and more relaxed planning — especially on days when the wind whistles along the Passeig Mallorca and the airport smells of espresso and paper.

Overview of the service: Line A11 runs during the day to Peguera, starting shortly after seven and ending at 10:30 pm, at intervals of around 70 to 80 minutes. Stops include Bendinat, Portals Nous, Con Caliu, Palmanova, Magaluf and Santa Ponça; the entire journey from the airport to Peguera takes about 1 hour and 5 minutes. If you stand on the platform in the morning with a full suitcase, you can board the bus relaxed and enjoy the first sea views along the way. The broader annual adjustments to these lines are outlined in Todo el año al aeropuerto: más autobuses conectan Palma con el interior de la isla.

Heading north, the A33 takes passengers to Port d'Alcúdia. This connection runs from early morning until late at night, at intervals between one hour and just over 80 minutes, and stops in places such as Inca and Sa Pobla. Pure travel time to Alcúdia: approximately one hour — ideal for families or cyclists who arrive without a rental car and want to stroll the market in the afternoon.

For Campos and the south coast there is line A51: buses start as early as 5:35 am and run hourly until 11:40 pm. Stops include Arenal and Llucmajor; the journey takes around 45 minutes. Likewise, the A43 shuttles hourly to Manacor (around 45 minutes) — practical for commuters, service providers and anyone who needs to get inland.

The A42 serves the east coast: Cala Bona, Cala Millor and Porto Cristo are reachable by bus from early to late, albeit at irregular intervals. And the A32 connects the airport with Can Picafort; buses run from 8 am until shortly after midnight, at intervals of roughly 45 to 55 minutes. Stops include Inca, Alcúdia, Port d'Alcúdia as well as the beaches of Platja d'Alcúdia and Platja de Muro.

These connections are more than just nice extras: they help relieve traffic on the island because fewer holidaymakers rent a car immediately. That is good for the parking around the airfield and for the small towns along the routes, where cafes and shops remain open in winter. On Plaça de Mallorca in Peguera you now see, at this time of year, locals with blankets and thermos flasks sitting alongside retirees from Germany; the bus service makes this mix possible.

An everyday scene: it is early morning in Palma, umbrellas open, wheeled suitcases roll across the paved forecourt. At the airport someone speaks briefly into their phone, a child laughs, and a Tib departure board shows the next departures. Depending on your destination you only need to catch the right bus line — and can look forward to the view of the sea instead of searching for a parking space.

Practical tip: timetables can vary in the low season. Check departure times before you travel and allow some buffer time for connecting trains or ferries; the official airport information is available on Aena's Son Sant Joan airport page. For locals the new offer is a cost-effective alternative, for visitors a convenient introduction to the island — especially when the sun sets earlier and the beach bars put their chairs away.

Conclusion: the winter Aerotib connections are a fast, inexpensive option for anyone visiting or working on Mallorca outside the high season. They fill gaps in the public network and ensure that the island does not quickly become a car island in autumn and winter; for perspectives on budget travel to the island see Viajar barato a Mallorca en invierno: qué aeropuertos fronterizos merecen la pena. Anyone who has once taken the bus from the airport toward the north coast knows: the island has its own rhythm even in the quiet season. Now it is a little easier to reach.