Spain

Our business in Spain, ALSA, has an impressive pedigree.

At the end of the 19th century, the western roads of Asturias in Spain witnessed the birth of the company through "La Ferrocarrilana", the first Luarca stagecoach company, which made the Luarca-Oviedo trip in 15 hours. By 1899, "El Luarca, Automóviles de Viajeros", with a new name and new vehicles, cut eight hours off the off the journey time by using newly acquired steam coaches, the company's first.

At the turn of the century the company underwent significant change. Technological advances, which allowed horse traction to be replaced firstly with steam engines and then with combustion engines, provided great opportunities to grow the business.

The transportation of passengers and goods was of vital importance, as it enabled the supply of foodstuffs and stocks, whilst promoting social and cultural development and exchanges between the regions served.

The western part of Asturias underwent significant economic development and Automóviles El Luarca (as it came to be known over time) was involved in this economic growth, making its first journey in a petrol driven coach in 1916.

Based on the experience accumulated in passenger and goods transport, in 1923 Automóviles Luarca, S.A. (A.L.S.A.) was set up, providing a modern framework for a series of activities related to transport.  Since then ALSA has positioned itself as a specialist company, fully qualified in all activities corresponding to passenger road transport.

The 1960s was a turning point in the history of ALSA, with significant progress and the start of constant growth for our company.

In 1964 the first international route, Oviedo-Paris-Brussels, was set up, followed later in the year by the scheduled Asturias-Madrid service. These new incursions allowed its vehicles to reach other points around Europe (Switzerland, Portugal), thereby extending its transport network and reaching ever more people.

The internationalisation process outside of Europe began in 1984 with the start of activities in the People's Republic of China. The next step was Morocco, through the awarding of the tender for urban transport in Marrakesh, in 1999.

Leading companies in the sphere of their respective regions of Galicia, Cantabria and Castile-Leon became part of ALSA during the 1990s. In 1999 it took over the public company Enatcar Group.

The most important event more recently was the merger in 2005 with National Express Group and the takeover in 2007 of Continental Auto Group, the second national transport operator in passenger road transport in Spain.