GASCOIGNE
European airport transfer operator Flibco is launching its ‘AI-powered’ airport transport model in the UK, with its first service connecting central London with Stansted Airport from this April.
Flibco secured the London Stansted Airport contract through a competitive tender process, and has partnered with The Coach Travel Group to provide what it says will be ‘a reliable, cost effective, high-quality experience.’ Having established operations across France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, the operator says its expansion into the UK is a major milestone for the company, which says it plans to invest £45 million into the UK over the next five years, creating 80 jobs as the service grows.
Launching on 1 April, the new service will operate 96 journeys per day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with departures each way every 30 minutes.
The company says the route has been designed to optimise travel time and reliability to and from the airport, while avoiding congestion, and will operate from the airport’s bus terminal, located just outside the Arrivals hall, and serve two key locations in London, namely Stratford station (Westfield), located 50 minutes from the airport, with connections to the Elizabeth, Central, and Jubilee Underground lines, plus DLR and rail links, and Liverpool Street railway station, with a journey time of approximately 90 minutes.
Although promising a headline 30-minute frequency, Flibco says it has has applied its airport transport expertise and ‘AI-powered scheduling’ to ensure timetables are aligned with flight departures and arrivals, adding that the service will scale up during peak hours. Standard tickets will be valid all day until 0400hrs the following morning, allowing passengers to board any available service, and fully flexible tickets can be cancelled or refunded up to a few minutes before departure, the company says.
Car Park & Ancillaries Director at London Stansted Paul Garnett said: “We are delighted to welcome Flibco to London Stansted, offering passengers even more choice, great service, and excellent value when traveling to and from London. With its new express services every 30 minutes to Stratford and Liverpool Street, Flibco will play an important role in enhancing connectivity while supporting our ambition to increase public transport use among passengers. London Stansted has the highest proportion of public transport users of any major UK airport, and by expanding our coach network with high-quality operators like Flibco, we’re ensuring that number continues to grow.”
CEO of Flibco Tobias Stüber added: “Expanding into the UK – a major international travel destination – marks a significant move for Flibco as we continue to make airport transfers even easier for passengers. We’ve built our reputation at other major international airports by bringing a smarter, more flexible approach to airport transfers that prioritise both efficiency and passenger experience.
London Stansted Airport is a key hub for our operations, connecting passengers to over 27 airports where Flibco provides onward travel services to destination cities too, ensuring seamless connectivity for passengers at both ends of their journey.
“Crucially, we’re doing this in partnership with an established UK operator, ensuring that our expansion strengthens the local transport sector rather than competes with it. We look forward to working closely with industry partners as we grow our presence in the UK.”
