Book a ticket Private hire Partner with us Menu Home About us Business model Business model At National Express we share a fundamental belief that driving modal shift from cars to high quality mass transit is fundamental to a safe, green and prosperous future. HOW WE CREATE VALUE Value drivers that differentiate us from our peers as a leading operator in this critical sector. Growing revenue Over half of the Group’s revenue is generated through multi-year contracts with school boards, transit authorities and corporate customers. This revenue is generated either on a per mile/kilometre basis, or per route travelled with little or no demand risk. In a normal year the Group generates a further 40% of revenue through ticket sales to the public. In these, National Express assumes revenue risk. Our Revenue Management Systems (RMS) enable us to better understand purchasing behaviour to drive revenue through differential pricing depending on time of journey, ticket type, buying channel etc. whilst our customer facing apps support our customers in getting the product they need at a price they can afford. Converting it to profit National Express has long enjoyed industry-leading margins driven by a focus on operational excellence. Sophisticated network optimisation is a key factor whereby we optimise peak vehicle requirements and occupancy through review and redesign of our networks, reducing the cost of delivering a high quality service to our customers. We use scheduling software to optimise routes in our student transportation and transit markets in North America. Our diversity and scale are an important factor in managing indirect costs, enabling us to optimise cost and quality across the Group’s supply base. Delivering cash flow National Express has a track record of consistently generating cash flow from its operations. The Group delivered an average of over £150 million of free cash flow each year prior to the impact of the pandemic in 2020. Funding returns and investment We invest cash back into the operations to grow, having invested over £800 million both organically and inorganically since 2015. This has created our transit and shuttle business in North America; strengthened our market-leading positions in Spain; built our key hub positions in North America student transport; and enabled us to create the leading urban bus business in Morocco. In addition, over the five years prior to 2020, the Group returned £327 million through dividends. Delivering for all our stakeholders CUSTOMERS Safe, clean and reliable service at a fair price PASSENGERS Consistent delivery, proactive innovation and transparent communication underpinned by great value for money SUPPLIERS A long-term partner, investing in collaborative innovation GOVERNMENTS & REGULATORS A partner to help to solve the challenges of congestion, carbon, clean air and inclusive growth COMMUNITIES Enables broader positive community impact and greater social mobility EMPLOYEES A workplace that values diversity, champions inclusion and respects the rights of all employees, creating opportunities for progression and rewards fairly What we do National Express Group is a leading international public transport operator, diversified internationally and by business area. What we do Our businesses National Express operates transportation services in eight countries (UK, USA, Canada, Spain, Morocco, Switzerland, Germany and Bahrain) with some international coach services to other European countries. Our businesses Our strategy Driving our business forward through our three strategic priorities Our strategy NATIONAL EXPRESS NEWS Get the latest news from across the group News releases National Express Group PLC is a company registered in England and Wales, whose registered office is National Express House, Birmingham Coach Station, Mill Lane, Digbeth Birmingham, B5 6DD. Registered No: 2590560. QUICK LINKS National Express Foundation About us Sustainability Investors Media Careers CUSTOMERS Contact us © National Express Group PLC 2021. All rights reserved. Site Map Modern Slavery Statement Tax policy Privacy centre Cookie policy Cookies Settings We use cookies to optimise our website's functionality, to create more valuable experiences for you, and to keep our site secure. By clicking on the “Accept All Cookies” button, you consent to our use of cookies. You can change your preferences at any time in “Cookie Settings”. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies