The Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa has announced that bank card payments will be enabled on the Lurraldebus buses connecting Donostia with Hondarribia Airport (line E30) starting July 1st. The measure was announced by the Provincial Deputy for Mobility, Tourism, and Territorial Planning, Azahara Domínguez.
This decision addresses the needs of numerous users of the E30 line who do not possess a MUGI card. According to Domínguez, card payments will make public transport access "simpler and more comfortable," particularly for those arriving in the territory or using this line occasionally, by speeding up the payment process and improving the travel experience.
“"This initiative will have a very positive impact on the daily work of the drivers. This will help reduce payment incidents and streamline boarding operations. By doing so, we will contribute to making the service more efficient and enabling the professionals who provide it to perform their duties under better conditions."
This improvement is part of Lurraldebus's modernization process and its adaptation to user needs. Furthermore, it has been indicated that card payments will be extended to the company's other lines in the coming months. This measure complements the one implemented last summer, when anonymous MUGI cards began to be sold at the airport's gift shop.
Additionally, from July 1st, anonymous MUGI cards can be purchased and any type of MUGI card can be recharged at Loiu Airport. These transactions will be handled by Lurraldebus's on-site staff at the Biscay terminal, present since late 2023.
The objective is to "offer a convenient and accessible option for both current MUGI users and those who are not yet familiar with this system." Domínguez recalled that these transactions can also be carried out at about twenty tourist resources in the territory and in municipalities such as Beizama, Ataun, or Albiztur. "Bringing these procedures closer to strategic locations like an airport is also a way to promote the extensive public transport network we enjoy in Gipuzkoa and to encourage more people to opt for sustainable, simple, and integrated mobility," the deputy concluded.
