FlixBus Makes East Coast Debut on One-Year Anniversary in USA

FlixBus, Europe’s leading mobility startup, is making its East Coast debut with routes connecting New York City, Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond up to 11 times per day. The bright green buses will hit the streets of Manhattan on May 30, exactly one year after FlixBus entered the United States with routes starting from California which now span 9 states.

“After disrupting the European mobility market, we entered the US with some serious ambitions. We wanted to change the perception of bus travel, get people to ditch their cars – and we have,” said Pierre Gourdain, managing director of FlixBus USA. “Now we are bringing it to the next level on the East Coast. It’s incredibly exciting to see the world’s greatest bus brand launch in the world’s greatest city.”

FlixBus was launched in Germany in 2013 and, after expanding to 28 countries across Europe, started service in the United States in May 2018 with routes connecting major hubs in the Southwest. In March 2019, a second network started in the Southern US, with routes in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi; in April, a third launch took place in Utah. The East Coast launch will take place exactly one year after the first green buses hit US highways.

To introduce the East Coast into the FlixBus network, all tickets will be priced at $4.99. Thereafter, the lowest ticket price will average $4.99 with prices varying depending on seasonality and demand.

Tech Meets Traditional Bus Industry

With a focus toward modernizing the traditional bus industry, FlixBus has a unique business model in which teams throughout the United States and Europe handle the technology development, network planning, operations control, marketing and sales, while the daily scheduled service and green FlixBus fleet is managed by local SME bus partners who often have decades of experience in the bus industry.

FlixBus has always been on the verge of new technical developments in the bus industry, from a cutting-edge app and Apple and Google Pay integrations to integrating virtual reality experiences on select routes in the US and launching the world’s first all-electric buses on long-distance lines in France and Germany.

The FlixBus daily operations are managed by 300 bus partners throughout the world, creating roughly 7,000 jobs for drivers. In the US alone, 20 local companies partner with FlixBus to service more than 80 destinations.

Shared Mobility and the Resurgence of the US Bus

With fewer young people buying cars each year, according to JD Power company, and a move toward shared mobility, FlixBus is expanding throughout the US at a time when more Americans are considering the bus as a long-distance travel alternative. According to FlixBus survey results, nearly 65 percent of all first-time FlixBus users in the United States had never taken a long-distance bus before, showing that the company is creating a new market in the industry.

“If we are only taking market share from Greyhound, we aren’t succeeding in the US,” said Gourdain. “We want to show people how inefficient it is to use your car for long-distance trips in the age of high gas and parking prices, traffic and low mileage leases. The bus provides a convenient and comfortable alternative, one that allows people to work, relax or sleep while they travel and keep more money to enjoy their destination.”

On top of buses being the most climate-friendly form of public transportation available, FlixBus passengers can choose to offset their carbon emissions with “CO2 Neutral” tickets.

With a shiny bright green fleet, free WiFi, power outlets at every seat, extra legroom and more, riding in a bus has never been more enjoyable. For more information, visit FlixBus online or download the convenient FlixBus App.

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