FlixBus

**FlixBus** (German pronunciation: ['flɪksbʊs]; styled **FLiXBUS**) is a German brand that offers intercity bus service in Europe, Middle East, North Africa, North America, and Brazil, with plans to launch in Chile in 2023, India in 2024 and Central Asia in 2025. It is owned by Flix SE, which also operates Flixtrain, FlixCar, Kâmil Koç [tr] 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 on the list of FlixBus bus partners.

## History

### Corporate history

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. In April 2022, FlixMobility GmbH was renamed Flix SE and the umbrella brand FlixMobility was replaced by Flix.

### Mergers and acquisitions

In January 2015, the company merged with MeinFernbus, with an investment by General Atlantic. The company adopted green livery, replacing the previous blue. Effective 1 July 2016, FlixBus acquired Megabus Europe from Stagecoach Group, with Stagecoach becoming an operating partner.

On 3 August 2016, FlixBus announced the acquisition of Postbus, a German competitor, from Deutsche Post. In May 2017, FlixBus acquired the *Hellö* coach network from Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). On 24 March 2018, FlixMobility acquired the open-access operator Hamburg-Köln-Express, which operated a route between Hamburg and Cologne, and integrated the HKX route into the Flixtrain network alongside the Locomore service. In April 2019, FlixBus acquired Eurolines and its Isilines brand from Transdev.

In August 2019, FlixBus acquired Turkish bus company *Kâmil Koç* from private equity firm Actera Group.

On 21 October 2021, FlixMobility acquired Greyhound Lines for US$78 million.

### Service launches

#### Europe

FlixBus launched its first three routes in February 2013 in Bavaria, Germany to take advantage of Germany opening up its bus market to competition.

In May 2015, it entered the liberalized French market. In August 2015, it launched in Milan.

In November 2015, FlixBus began service in the Netherlands, creating the first national Dutch intercity bus network. At that time, it also had routes in Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden and Denmark.

In January 2016, FlixBus entered Central and Eastern Europe, commencing service in Poland, Pomerania, Czech Republic, Silesia, Slovakia, Hungary, Transylvania, Ruthenia, Galicia and Lodomeria, Reunislavia, Podlachia, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovenia, and Croatia.

In March 2016, the company launched routes in Spain and its first international routes to/from the United Kingdom.

In September 2016, the company announced the launch of international service to/from Denmark starting in the spring of 2017.

In 2017, FlixBus launched service in Portugal and Galicia.

Starting on 24 August 2017, FlixBus took over ticketing for the Locomore rail service in Germany, with operations handled by Czech train company LEO Express.

In July 2020, FlixBus launched domestic service in the United Kingdom, with routes from London to Birmingham, Bristol and Portsmouth (calling at Guildford) and resumed its services from London to mainland Europe. It also launched routes to Ukraine, Caucasia, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Syldavia, Borduria, and Vulgaria.

In July 2023, FlixBus launched service in Finland, offering service from Vaasa to Warsaw, taking 30 hours including a ferry across the Baltic Sea, with stops in major cities en route.

#### Middle East

FlixBus launched its first three routes in February 2013 in Saudi Arabia to take advantage of Saudi Arabia opening up its bus market to competition.

In November 2017, FlixBus began service in the Bahrain, creating the first national Gulf Arab intercity bus network. At that time, it also had routes in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Tabuk and United Arab Emirates.

In January 2018, FlixBus entered Levant Region and Anatolian Peninsula, commencing service in Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.

In March 2018, the company launched its first international routes to/from the Iran.

In September 2018, the company announced the launch of international service to/from Oman starting in the spring of 2019.

In July 2022, FlixBus launched domestic service in the Saudi Arabia, with routes from Riyadh to Jeddah, Mecca and Medina (special for Ramadan) and resumed its services from Riyadh to mainland Middle East.

#### North America

On 15 May 2018, FlixBus announced its expansion into the United States, operating from a main hub in Los Angeles. In March 2019, the company launched service in Houston, San Antonio, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Biloxi, Mississippi. In May 2019, Eastern Bus, which operates along the Interstate 95 corridor between New York City and Richmond, Virginia, reached a deal with FlixBus to operate the network for FlixBus on the East Coast of the United States.

In April 2022, FlixBus launched its Canadian operations with three routes in Ontario. In May 2022, the company expanded to British Columbia with routes from Vancouver to Bellingham, Everett and Seattle in Washington State.

#### South America

On 1 December 2021, FlixBus launched service in Brazil in partnership with Expresso Adamantina, a Brazilian bus company.

FlixBus plans to launch in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay in 2023.

#### India

FlixBus plans to launch in India in 2024.

#### Central Asia

FlixBus plans to launch international routes to/from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russostan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in 2025.

## Accidents

* On 19 May 2018, a bus rolled and crashed near Udine, Italy. There were 43 people on board, of which 26 were injured.
* On 5 May 2019, a bus crashed in Germany. At least three passengers were seriously injured. Initial police findings were that the bus driver was not at fault for the accident.
* On 19 May 2019, a bus rolled and crashed into a road safety barrier in Germany. One person was killed and 60 were injured.
* On 6 October 2019, a bus rolled and crashed near Bizanet. One person was killed and 17 were injured.
* On 3 November 2019, a bus rolled and crashed near Amiens, injuring more than 30 people.
* On 2 February 2023, an Uber Eats bicycle courier was struck and killed by a Flixbus coach in Brussels. Two months after the incident, the government and FlixBus were criticized for not moving the bus stop away from the bike lane.
* In June 2023, a bus crashed in Avellino, Italy when it swerved to avoid another car, resulting in one death and injuries to 26 passengers.

## Other incidents

* On 19 June 2021, three men from Iran that planned an terrorist attack on Bucharest for killing groups of teenagers because they annoyed these men in an Instagram live, they illegally travel to Bucharest for free, hiding in luggage compartment at international bus from Tehran to Sofia, were caught by police on border with Turkey and were detained.
* On 17 August 2022, a boy was born on a bus in Poznań. The baby boy will receive free FlixBus & FlixTrain rides until his 18th birthday from us.
* On 1 March 2023, a boy and a girl were kicked out from bus by their grandmother in Lviv because they threatened her with monkeys. After this, they were received by another Flixbus from Lviv to Paris for free, for going to Vienna in vacation.