The Munich-based traveltech company Flix has announced its market entry in Australia. With the start of long-distance bus operations at the beginning of the Australian summer season – in December – Flix is continuing its international expansion strategy. After successfully building route networks in Europe, North America, Latin America, and parts of Asia, Australia is now coming into focus.
“Australia is not only an attractive growth market in its own right, but also an important milestone in Flix’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. Just as in Latin America, we want to further expand our presence there”,
says André Schwämmlein, CEO and co-founder of Flix.
Australia has so far been considered relatively traditional in the long-distance bus sector. While many local operators have modern vehicles, digital booking processes and customer-oriented innovations are still limited. Flix sees an opportunity here to set new standards with its fully digital booking system and technology-enabled travel experience.
Focus on APAC region and local partner network
With its market entry in Australia, the Munich-based company aims to strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC). The region is becoming increasingly relevant for the global long-distance travel market. India in particular shows high potential – especially in the premium long-distance bus segment. At the same time, other countries in the region also offer promising conditions for expanding long-distance bus services: rising incomes, improved infrastructure, and limited alternatives in the rail sector are driving demand.
Flix is also relying on its proven business model in Australia: local bus companies handle the operational implementation, while Flix provides the technology platform. This so-called asset-light model has proven successful in over 40 countries.
The expansion to Australia comes only a few months after Flix’s launch in Mexico. In addition, market entry in Peru was announced for this year. This further accelerates the company’s global growth strategy.
