Largest intercity bus operator in US sees bright future for bus travel

Flix, which launched just 11 years ago, provides long-distance bus and train travel in more than 40 countries. In 2021, Flix acquired Greyhound Lines in the U.S.; together the two brands have grown to become the country’s largest scheduled intercity bus operator by market share, according to Joseph Schwieterman, director of the Chaddick Institute at DePaul University.

Smart Cities Dive spoke with Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan to learn how the acquisition is working and to get his views on bus station closures and the outlook for the intercity bus industry. Boysan previously ran Turkey’s largest intercity bus carrier and has worked in private equity, telecom and consulting.

SMART CITIES DIVE: How well is the acquisition of Greyhound Lines working?

KAI BOYSAN: We have been operating in North America under the FlixBus brand since 2018, and we’ve seen robust growth. When we acquired Greyhound in 2021, we were able to reach close to 2,000 destinations, from major cities to remote communities. [In] February 2023, we completed the integration of Flix and Greyhound booking websites and technology into one, so a passenger can easily buy a ticket which can be made up of Greyhound as well as Flix lines with interconnections.

Now we have more than 45 bus partners who are helping us grow our network and providing more options for our passengers. These operators are small and medium-sized enterprises, locally based, so we’re supporting them as well.

The acquisition did not include Greyhound’s bus terminals, and some of these facilities have shut down, leaving riders to wait for buses on the sidewalk. How is Flix working to improve this situation?

We are in the process of relocating our bus terminals, some of which [are] already done, some of which are in process. We do that in complete transparency, in close cooperation with local governments, communities and all the local stakeholders.

What do you think will be the long-term solution for bus stations?

[The] long-term goal should be to use public transportation centers as bus terminals.

What we’ve seen so far is working very well to the benefit of local residents and local economies. Like in Boston’s South Station, it’s working well, and the city is investing further and upgrading that [terminal]. And also last year we moved into Los Angeles Union Station.

It’s also important [that] states extend support for bus terminals and public transportation centers. Almost all airports are regulated and, in many cases, managed by state authorities, maybe in a public-private partnership. We expect a similar setup going forward for the public transportation centers, where it is regulated and ideally managed by states, and where we provide purely bus operations. Ideally, that’s the long-term goal.

State-supported intercity bus services, like Virginia Breeze and Bustang in Colorado, are growing. How does Flix work with those services?

State-level support is really a critical resource as well as an opportunity for the sector. For all operators, it’s essential to provide that equitable access to long distance travel for all residents living in the United States. State support is critical to establish long-distance bus service for these communities so they can connect with the rest of the country.

What is your outlook on intercity bus travel in the coming years?

We are looking to the market in a promising way. Long-distance bus travel is a vital source of connectivity for millions in the United States, in North America, and we see a significant opportunity to innovate [and] attract new customers.

It’s serving the entire population but also vulnerable populations from low-income or from underprivileged backgrounds. We also serve rural communities who are far away from airports or long-distance trains. Bus travel is affordable, accessible and connects many destinations. The future is really bright for long-distance bus travel.