Peter Greenberg once said that the most exciting transportation innovations are not coming from airlines–instead, bus lines are growing stronger and stronger and offering many more ways to get around cheaply than airlines can even imagine.
After successfully launching green buses on the West Coast, the European startup will bring its tech meets travel approach to the south beginning March 14, 2019.
++ World’s largest provider to serve Baton Rouge, Biloxi, Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio
++ FlixBus tech platform partners with four local bus companies to offer daily service
++ Convenient travel for students with stops located near campuses and tickets as low as $0.99
++ Over 65% of FlixBus USA first-time users had never taken a long-distance bus before
After conquering Europe and then the West Coast of the United States, FlixBus is launching its southern US network with routes connecting Baton Rouge, La., Biloxi, Miss., Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio. Tickets are on sale as of March 6 and buses will hit roads on March 14 with additional cities in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas added to the network throughout Spring 2019.
“We are excited to offer a new way to travel for those living in the southern US and those visiting,” said Pierre Gourdain, Managing Director of FlixBus USA. “Our goal is to provide convenient transportation and encourage people to park their cars. We’ve already started a trend on the West Coast and created a new market for bus travel, with over 65 percent of FlixBus USA travelers having never taken a long-distance bus – we are ready to do this in the south where car is king.”
FlixBus’ presence in Texas and Louisiana will be especially impactful for students looking for an affordable mode of transportation. Stops are conveniently-located near Rice University, Louisiana State University and near the University of Texas at San Antonio downtown campus, and tickets will start as low as $0.99.
Within the FlixBus business model, the company will partner with local charter companies AJL International, Louisiana Motor Coach, Star Shuttle and Wynne Transportation for the daily operation of the buses on southern routes while FlixBus manages the technology development, network planning, yield management, operations control and marketing. FlixBus partners with over 300 local SME bus partners globally and has created over 7,000 jobs for local bus drivers.
“Louisiana Motor Coach is proud to be the partner selected to provide state-of-the-art daily coach service in the deep south,” said Louis Sanders, Vice President of Louisiana Motor Coach. “We couldn’t be more thrilled at this fantastic opportunity for further growth.”
Riders can choose from departures throughout the day or overnight routes to save money on a night’s stay by sleeping on the bus and wake up in their destination, ready to take on the day. Coupled with the option to purchase CO2 Neutral tickets, which offset the passenger’s carbon footprint, customers can ride easy knowing they’re also traveling with the most sustainable transportation option available.
FlixBus has become the largest bus provider in the world in terms of network reach, connecting people across 29 countries with over 350,000 daily connections in Europe and the United States. With a shiny fleet averaging 1-2 years old, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, complimentary onboard entertainment including movies, TV shows, music, video games, audiobooks and more, riding in a bus has never been more enjoyable. For more information, visit FlixBus online.