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FlixBus (German pronunciation: ['flɪksbʊs]; styled FLiXBUS) is a German brand that offers low-cost intercity bus services via 400,000 routes to over 5,000 destinations in more than 40 countries in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. It is owned by Flix SE, which also operates Flixtrain, FlixCar, Kâmil Koç, and Greyhound Lines. Flixbus operates buses or, in many cases, just handles marketing, pricing, and customer service for a commission, on behalf of bus operators.[1][2][3] In 2023, FlixBus had revenues of €2 billion and carried 81 million passengers of which 55 million were in Europe, 14 million were in Turkey, and 12 million were in North America.[4]
 | |
| Founded | 2011 (13 years ago) (2011) |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Munich, Bavaria, Germany |
| Service area | Europe United States Brazil Chile Canada India |
| Service type | Intercity bus service |
| Website | www |
FlixBus was founded in 2011 in Munich by Daniel Krauss, Jochen Engert and André Schwämmlein. In June 2021, FlixMobility GmbH raised $650 million at a valuation of US$3 billion.[5] In April 2022, FlixMobility GmbH was renamed Flix SE and the umbrella brand FlixMobility was replaced by Flix.[6]
In April 2018, Flixbus was the first to use all-electric vehicles on a long distance bus route, between Paris La Défense and Amiens.[7]
FlixBus launched its first three routes in February 2013 in Bavaria, Germany to take advantage of Germany opening up its bus market to competition.[8] In the following years, it added routes across Europe.[9]
FlixBus expanded to the United States in 2018, first operating from Los Angeles,[10] then expanding to the East Coast in 2019 through a partnership with Eastern Bus.[11]
FlixBus launched service in Brazil in 2021,[12] Canada in 2022,[13][14][15] Chile in 2023,[16] and India in 2024.[17]
| # | Date | Company | Seller | Notes | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 2015 | MeinFernbus | Received investment from General Atlantic | [18] | |
| 2 | November 2015 | LIINITA | Provider of trips of up to 15 kilometers | [19] | |
| 3 | July 2016 | Megabus Europe | Stagecoach Group | Stagecoach became an operating partner | [20] |
| 4 | August 2016 | Postbus | Deutsche Post | German bus lines | [21] |
| 5 | May 2017 | Hellö coach network | Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) | Austrian bus lines | [22] |
| 6 | May 2018 | Swebus Express | Nobina | Swedish bus lines | [23] |
| 7 | April 2019 | Eurolines and Isilines | Transdev | Acquisition of Eurolines operating businesses including France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic and Spain and excluding Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ireland, Switzerland and Serbia | [24][25] |
| 8 | August 2019 | Kâmil Koç | Private equity firm Actera Group | Turkish bus lines | [26] |
| 9 | October 2021 | Greyhound Lines | FirstGroup | U.S. bus lines; price was $78 million | [27][28][29][30][31][32] |
In 2016, FlixBus was accused by a German government agency of forcing its partners to make drivers work excessive hours at low wages.[51]
Unlike train services and trucks, buses do not pay any road toll in Germany; this was criticized as a "hidden subsidy" by some German politicians in the spring of 2015.[52] bdo, an association of German bus companies, responded that buses pay for infrastructure use in the form of related taxes (ex. mineral oil tax) while billions in subsidies are paid to national rail provider Deutsche Bahn.[53]
In August 2016, following the acquisition of Postbus, FlixBus had control of roughly 80% of the German long-distance bus market, a move criticised by various media outlets as a de facto monopoly and harmful to competition. It was also suggested at the time that FlixBus' control of the market could lead to higher prices and less service to smaller destinations.[54][55][56]
In July 2020, a passenger criticized the company for not requiring social distancing on its buses in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic. FlixBus responded, claiming that the requirements from the Public Health Agency of Sweden were unclear.[57][58]
On May 14, 2020, the Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC) filed a federal class action lawsuit in a California U.S. District Court against FlixBus and other bus operators alleging that buses were inaccessible for wheelchair users and staff was untrained on how to accommodate wheelchair users.[59]
Following the crash of a FlixBus coach in Italy in June 2023, FlixBus was criticized by survivors for the lack of support offered, including delays in receiving help from the company and a lack of communication. Passengers said that, despite the seriousness of the situation, their initial compensation offer was a €10 meal voucher "for the inconvenience."[60][44]
