The largest intercity bus operator in the US sees a bright future for bus travel

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Flix, which launched just 11 years ago, offers long-distance bus and rail 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 largest scheduled intercity bus operator in the country by market share, according to Joseph Schwieterman, director of the Chaddick Institute at DePaul University.

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

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

KAI BOYSAN: We have been operating in North America under the FlixBus brand since 2018 and have experienced strong growth. When we acquired Greyhound in 2021, we were able to reach nearly 2,000 destinations, from major cities to remote communities. In February 2023, we completed the integration of the Flix and Greyhound websites and booking technology into one, so that a passenger can easily purchase a ticket that can be comprised of both Greyhound and Flix lines with interconnections.

We currently have over 45 bus partners who help us expand our network and offer more options to our passengers. These operators are small and medium-sized companies based locally, so we support them as well.

The acquisition did not include Greyhound bus terminals, and some of these facilities closed, forcing passengers 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 built and others are in progress. We do this in full transparency, in close cooperation with local governments, communities and all local stakeholders.

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

The long-term goal should be to use public transport hubs as bus terminals.

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

It is also important that states expand their support for bus terminals and public transport hubs. Almost all airports are regulated and in many cases managed by state authorities, perhaps in the framework of a public-private partnership. We hope that in the future a similar setup will be seen for public transport hubs, where states regulate and, ideally, manage them, and where we exclusively offer bus services. Ideally, that is the long-term goal.

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

State support is a critical resource and opportunity for the sector. For all operators, it is essential to provide equitable access to long-distance travel for all residents living in the United States. State support is critical to establishing long-distance bus service for these communities so they can connect to the rest of the country.

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

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

We serve the entire population, but also vulnerable populations from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds. We also serve rural communities that are far 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.