Andorra Seeks Foreign Buses for School Ski Trips Amid Coach Shortage

Andorra's Ministry of Education is seeking buses from transport companies outside the country to ensure school skiing trips can proceed amid a shortage of available vehicles.

The initiative comes after local firms failed to provide enough coaches at the start of the school year, complicating logistics for the programme. Officials have confirmed that this season's transport management has been particularly challenging, with demand exceeding supply despite an initial tender process separate from regular school transport contracts.

Students in 5ème year of the French education system have been the first affected. Their two planned "white weeks" of skiing—one ending now and the next upcoming—have been unexpectedly postponed with little notice. Ministry sources stressed that the ministry aims to reschedule these sessions later, viewing the delay as the least disruptive option given the constraints. No other groups have yet faced cancellations.

Families of the French school pupils expressed frustration, with some feeling discriminated against. Officials firmly denied any underlying bias, attributing the issues solely to the vehicle shortfall. They noted that early-term requests to Andorran companies yielded fewer buses than needed, forcing ad-hoc adjustments to fit trips to ski resorts without excessive upheaval for parents.

Efforts to source external coaches have so far failed, as contacted firms outside Andorra declined due to bureaucratic hurdles like vehicle import-export procedures and the need to station buses locally. The ministry is making do with available resources while promising to plan further ahead for next year.

"Education intends to deliver the planned service by readjusting as necessary, provided it does not cause major disruptions for families," sources said, underscoring the inherent complexity of the logistics.