Barnes Coaches Plays Key Role in Major European Ski Programme

Barnes Coaches has successfully supported a major coordinated European ski programme as part of The Coach Travel Group’s newly introduced Ski Synergy initiative during the 2026 winter season.

Barnes Coaches supports The Coach Travel Group’s first-year ‘Ski Synergy’ initiative across six countries
Barnes has successfully supported a major coordinated European ski programme as part of The Coach Travel Group’s newly introduced Ski Synergy initiative during the 2026 winter season.

The programme brought together 10 operators from across the UK, deploying 48 vehicles and more than 100 drivers across six countries and covering over 75,000 miles during peak school travel periods.
As part of the initiative, Barnes provided four vehicles and experienced alpine drivers, contributing to operations in destinations including Austria, Italy and Andorra.

Ski Synergy was introduced for 2026 to align overseas routes, engineering support and vehicle positioning across the Group, reducing dead mileage and strengthening operational resilience. The coordinated approach proved particularly valuable during periods of severe alpine weather, including heavy snowfall in parts of Austria.

By working collaboratively, operators were able to share contingency planning, engineering support and real-time operational communication. A strengthened engineering presence at Dover and dedicated support in mainland Europe ensured vehicles remained operational throughout the season.

“We were so proud to have played our part! We had an incredible Winter, collaborating with our Coach Travel Group family for the ski season.

This initiative brought 10 operators together to share resources, support, expertise, ensuring a seamless experience across every mile.

We also had the pleasure of providing private hire transport for our The Coach Travel Group CEO, Tom Stables, on a spectacular ski trip to the Swiss Alps.” – Luke Barnes

The successful delivery of the 2026 ski season marks an important step in how The Coach Travel Group operates complex international programmes, combining national scale with strong local operators such as Barnes Coaches.

Photo Credit: Barnes driver Jason Moss