INDIA
FlixBus has announced India as the 43rd country to join its growing global network, with the first buses scheduled to start running on 6 February, connecting a total of 46 cities, with Delhi as a hub.
With an estimated market size of €30bn, FlixBus says India is the second largest bus market in the world and offers huge potential. Online bus travel bookings are growing significantly, the company says, making it the right time for it to introduce its own tech platform in the region. The company says it will not only focus on standardisation and safety, but also leveraging technology to add value to a market where buses form the backbone of transportation for millions of travellers.
“By bringing FlixBus to India, we are launching in the second-largest bus market in the world and are expanding our network to South Asia, just four months after having expanded to Chile,” said André Schwämmlein, co-founder and CEO of Flix. ”This is a massive step for Flix. We are continuing our profitable growth path and are adding a 43rd country to our portfolio, by rolling out our proven business model that relies on partnerships with local operators. I am confident that Flix will provide Indians with a new travel standard, enabled by technology, that is convenient and reliable and puts road safety at the heart of its offering. As in every market we enter, we are aiming for market leadership.”
Cities joining the network will include Ayodhya, Lucknow, Dehradun, Manali, and Jodhpur, and FlixBus says its services will expand to offer more than 200 daily connections. In the next stage, the company will look to expand its offering around Delhi and launch its first routes in the south of the country. To date, FlixBus has formed partnerships with five local bus operators based in Delhi.
