Online Ticket Platform Expected To Launch Before Summer 2026
Public transport users in Madeira will be able to buy bus tickets and passes online later this year, using a digital system based on QR codes. The announcement was made today on April 30, 2026, by the regional secretary for Equipment and Infrastructure, Pedro Rodrigues, after a test journey on bus line 45 between Nazaré and central Funchal.
The new platform is currently in a testing phase and is expected to be operational before the summer. According to Rodrigues, the system will become the main sales channel for both single tickets and travel passes. It will allow residents and visitors to purchase tickets in advance, including before arriving in Madeira.
New Giro Ticket Valid For One Year Across Three Operators
The digital system is built around the new “Giro” ticket, which is rechargeable and valid for one year. It can be used across the island’s three bus operators: Horários do Funchal, Rodoeste and CAM.
The ticket works through a QR code displayed on a mobile phone, which can be scanned directly on board buses. This means passengers will not need a physical ticket when using the service.
Rodrigues said the system is designed to cover all routes across Madeira and Porto Santo, offering a single integrated solution for public transport.
Passenger Information System Includes 10 Panels In Initial Phase
Alongside the new ticketing system, authorities presented an updated passenger information system. Inside buses, new monitors show details such as the next stop and estimated travel times.
At bus stops, electronic panels will display expected arrival times. In the first phase, 10 panels are being installed along the “Linha Verde” route, which runs from Avenida do Mar to Fórum Madeira. So far, three of these panels are already in operation.
In a later stage, an additional 25 panels will be installed across Funchal, expanding real-time information for passengers.
More Than 100 Payshop Locations Still Sell Physical Tickets
For now, traditional sales channels remain available. Passengers can still buy tickets at operator sales points and in more than 100 Payshop stores across the region.
In addition, 18 ticket vending machines will be installed across all municipalities, including one at Madeira Airport. Tickets will also continue to be sold directly on buses.
However, officials made clear that the long-term goal is to reduce the use of physical tickets.
Giro App Will Allow Digital Purchase Of All Ticket Types
The future system will include a mobile application where users can choose and buy different types of tickets. These include municipal and intermunicipal routes, adult and child fares, Aerobus tickets and tourist passes for one, two or three days.
Marco Lobato, president of Horários do Funchal and TiiM (Transportes Integrados e Intermodais da Madeira), explained the aim of the project:
The Giro app is being developed to make ticket purchases completely digital. I don’t need to go anywhere. Through the online platform, I can choose the ticket I want to buy – whether it’s an intercity ticket, a municipal ticket, or tickets for adults, children, or Aerobus services. I’ll have all this convenience through a single app, which will provide me with a QR code that can be scanned on all buses.
He added that, in a later phase, travel passes will also become fully digital, removing the need for plastic cards.
The changes are part of a wider plan to simplify access to public transport and make the system easier to use for both residents and tourists.
Source: Diário de Notícias Madeira
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