International expansion: FlixBus starts bus services in the UK and the Baltics

Munich/Berlin, 08 July 2020 – July remarks an important month for FlixBus, as Europe’s biggest provider of intercity bus travel, is launching in the UK and the Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Next to the expansion in the UK and the Baltics, FlixMobility is also relaunching its railway business. FlixTrain will operate in Germany between Berlin and Cologne from July 23.

The UK will be part of the FlixBus network from July 2nd on. In a boost to the UK economy, FlixBus will partner with local, authorized coach firms, which are often family run, and will start with four routes from London to to Bristol, Guildford, Birmingham and Portsmouth. Initially, the offer will entail around 200 trips a week. At the same time FlixBus will also resume its service to mainland Europe and directly connect London to cities such as Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels.

From July 16, FlixBus will offer daily connections from all three Baltic capitals Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius and more than 10 new destinations like Kaunas or Pärnu, a popular summer destination in Estonia. From the start there will be also new cross-border connections available from Vilnius to Berlin and from Tallinn to Warsaw.

With the lockdown coming to an end in many European countries, and people being allowed to see family and friends again, FlixBus expects to be able to increase the network again and to offer even more destinations in the network soon.

André Schwämmlein, CEO FlixBus: “With the lockdown restrictions easing in many European countries, people will want to start travelling to see family and friends or travel for work again. With our comprehensive hygiene measures we offer a safe journey for our customers, which is convenient and sustainable at the same time. We prepared our expansion to Great Britain and the Baltic states intensively last year and are now glad to announce these next steps in the international expansion. As we are partnering with local firms, we will also be giving a boost to businesses that have been hit hard by COVID-19.”

Extensive hygiene measures for a safe journey  

With the expansion of the route network, the extensive hygiene and safety measures designed by FlixBus - in cooperation with experts and authorities - will continue to apply.  

Buses are thoroughly disinfected after each journey and ventilated in addition to the supply of fresh air through the ventilation during the journey. Currently, entry and exit are only via the rear bus door. A contactless digital ticket control and disinfectant on board are an important part of the hygiene concept. The safety distance of 2 meters, which has become customary in the meantime, must be observed both in the waiting areas at the bus stops and when boarding and exiting the bus. Wearing a mouth and nose protection is mandatory when boarding and alighting and during the entire journey. 

FlixBus passengers will receive the current safety instructions with the booking confirmation when purchasing tickets online and via the mobile app. All safety measures are also explained by the drivers on board and can also be read in advance on our homepage. FlixBus continues to work closely with health and government authorities and naturally follows their advice. The measures introduced by FlixBus go beyond the legal requirements, but the company continues to appeal to its passengers to make their journey only if they are healthy and otherwise comply with the safety measures, such as keeping a safe distance at the bus stops, when getting on and off the bus, as well as when loading and unloading suitcases and wearing masks.