The Urban Planning Commission has initially approved the ordinance that integrates the EMT into the fare system of the Consorci de Transports de Mallorca. Users of the Unique Card will pay from €1.20 per journey, with progressive reductions down to €0.03.
The Urban Planning Commission of the Palma City Council has given initial approval to the modification of the ordinance regulating urban public transport fares, a key step for the full integration of the Municipal Transport Company (EMT) into the fare system of the Consorci de Transports de Mallorca (CTM). The measure, which must be ratified by the municipal Plenary, will allow residents to use a single travel title, the Unique Card, to move around by urban bus, intercity, train, and metro across the island.
The new fare model, which replaces the current fixed fare system, introduces progressive discounts that reward frequency of use. As explained by the Deputy Mayor of Mobility, Toni Deudero, the single ticket paid in cash on board will cost €3, but holders of the Unique Card will enjoy a 60% discount from the first trip of the month, bringing the cost of the first journey down to €1.20.
From there, the system accumulates points based on the fare jumps of the journey, and each point reduces the price of the trip by €0.015. The minimum price per journey has been set at €0.03, meaning that a regular user making multiple trips a day can see their travel costs reduced to almost symbolic amounts.
“We are moving from a fixed fare to a descending price system that particularly benefits those who use the EMT regularly,” highlighted Deudero during the commission. The councillor emphasized that the goal is to encourage the use of public transport and facilitate intermodality, allowing different means of the Mallorca network to be combined with the same title.
The Unique Card will function as an electronic wallet that records the journeys made each month and automatically applies the discounts. The system takes into account the zoning of the CTM: zone A1, which includes Palma and surrounding areas, is considered zero jumps, while the journey to the airport (zone A2) constitutes a fare jump. For the latter, the reference fare is €4.50, but users of the Unique Card benefit from the same system of progressive discounts.
The ordinance also includes special bonuses for specific groups. Young people aged 17 to 30 will receive a 70% discount, as will general category large families. Students under 31 will also benefit from advantageous conditions, and support for vulnerable groups will continue, in line with the criteria of the CTM.
A relevant aspect for users' wallets is that throughout 2026, public transport will remain free for those using the Intermodal Card or the new Unique Card, according to the budget forecasts of the EMT and measures announced by the central government. This means that, for now, the progressive discounts will apply to a cost already subsidised at 100%, so the real impact for the user will be nil until the free period ends.
The fare integration also facilitates intermodality. When a journey starts in the urban network of Palma, the title allows transfers for a period of up to 90 minutes from the first validation. If the journey begins in the intercity network, the transfer period is up to 60 minutes from the departure validation. This will allow, for example, combining a journey on an urban bus with another on a train or metro at no additional cost within those timeframes.
The next administrative step is the final approval by the Palma City Council Plenary, expected in the coming weeks. Once approved, a 30-day public information period will open before its publication in the Butlletí Oficial de les Illes Balears (BOIB). The new ordinance is expected to come into force in the following months, once the procedures are completed.
For the residents of Palma, the measure represents a substantial change in how public transport is paid for. Those who regularly use the Unique Card will see their travel costs progressively decrease throughout the month, with significant potential savings compared to the single ticket. Additionally, the ability to use the same title for the entire Mallorca network simplifies intercity travel.
The City Council hopes that the new system will encourage the abandonment of private vehicles and help reduce emissions and congestion in the Balearic capital. The measure is part of the municipality's sustainable mobility plan, which seeks to promote public transport as a real alternative to the car.
Those interested can consult the details of the ordinance on the municipal website once the file is published. The period for objections will allow citizens and entities to submit suggestions before the final approval.
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