The port of Palma takes another step towards sustainable mobility with the awarding of the port bus contract
The joint venture formed by TUI España Turismo and MallorcAventura will operate this maritime transport system that will connect different points in the bay
Palma
27/03/2026- Port-city
- Transport and infrastructure
The Board of Directors of the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB) agreed, at its last meeting, to award the first port bus service of the port of Palma to the joint venture formed by TUI Spain Tourism and MallorcAventura. The project will enable the implementation of a new regular maritime transport system that will connect different points of the port and the bay of Palma using sustainable vessels.
The Bus Nàutic Palma was created as a new concept of urban and tourist maritime mobility, designed to offer a modern, accessible and sustainable alternative for getting around the bay, both for residents and port workers as well as for visitors.
The winning company combines the international experience of the TUI tourism group —with a presence in more than 100 countries and extensive activity in Mallorca— with the local knowledge of MallorcAventura, a company specialising in sustainable maritime activities and promoter of the “Blue Circle” project, focused on maritime excursions with electric propulsion.
Three lines and six stations
The service will be structured into three distinct lines, designed to cater for different types of users. The first will connect the West Dock with the Royal Staircase of the Lonja dock and will be mainly for cruise passengers, with departures every 30 minutes on port call days.
The second will operate as a regular public service line, running every day of the year between the North West docks, the Local Transit terminal and the Royal Staircase of the Lonja dock, aimed especially at residents and workers of the port environment.
The third will cater for tourists and provide a connection with the beaches, linking the centre of Palma with Portitxol, Cala Estancia, Can Pastilla and s’Arenal. Therefore, this line will run during the tourist season.
In total, the service will have six stations strategically distributed around the bay, facilitating intermodality with other means of transport and connection with the historic centre and the main coastal areas.
A sustainable and accessible fleet
The service will operate with four state-of-the-art catamarans, each with a capacity for more than one hundred passengers. The vessels will be equipped with hybrid electric and biodiesel propulsion, allowing manoeuvres within the port to be carried out in 100% electric mode.
In addition, both the boats and the stations will be designed with universal accessibility criteria, including spaces for people with reduced mobility and areas for bicycles.
Daily usage rates
The service will have different pricing options. During 2026, a single one-way ticket will cost 6 euros, while for regular users the cost of the journey will be considerably reduced through passes. Thus, the 20-trip pass will allow each journey to be made for 1 euro, while with the 100-trip pass the price per journey will be reduced to 50 cents.
These fares, established by the APB in the terms and conditions of the concession, seek to promote the regular use of the port bus as public transport, especially among port workers and the citizens of Palma, reinforcing its role as a real mobility alternative.
A sustainable project with local impact
The project involves a total investment of more than one million euros, of which more than 55% will be allocated to environmental and sustainability measures. These include the installation of solar panels at stations, rainwater reuse systems, bioluminescent pavements, and artificial reefs to promote marine regeneration.
In addition, the operation of the service will create 48 direct jobs, with a commitment to local hiring and training schemes for maritime and land-based staff.
With this initiative, the Balearic Islands Port Authority is promoting a pioneering project in Spain that combines sustainable mobility, technological innovation and improvement of the urban and tourist experience in the port of Palma.
