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Flixbus in Berlin (archive picture): restart with obstacles
Photo: Fabian Sommer / dpa
In the corona crisis, Flixbus' business was idle for months, now the long-distance bus company wants to resume service from March 25th.
As of today, tickets can be booked on the platform, said Flixbus boss André Schwämmlein of the dpa news agency.
Initially, around 40 destinations are to be approached, including routes that are in high demand such as Berlin-Hamburg or Berlin-Munich.
"We'll start our network up again according to demand," said Schwämmlein.
"We are now driving the classic high-frequency routes with a low frequency, and for a short time we are not driving the previous low-frequency routes at all."
In normal times, Flixbus offers around 400 trips in Germany alone.
There should be no space or reservation restrictions when restarting.
"In addition to high hygiene and safety standards, we have the capacity display, with which customers can see when booking which journeys are in high demand." In summer, on June 24th, the long-distance train service under the Flixtrain brand will also be available on all previously available routes start again.
For this, too, sales will open on Wednesday.
Schwämmlein expressed confidence that demand would return quickly.
Many people longed to visit friends and family in other cities again.
Flixbus had completely stopped trips in Germany in November due to the corona crisis.
The planned restart for Christmas has been canceled.
At the beginning of the new year, Schwämmlein assumed a drop in passenger numbers of around 50 percent for 2020.
Flixbus is active in a total of 30 countries.
The company is the largest long-distance bus travel operator in Germany.
Great plans
To this end, the platform cooperates with bus companies whose vehicles are used to make the trips.
These bus partners have so far almost all survived the crisis, said Schwämmlein.
“We haven't seen a wave of bankruptcies so far.
The partners are there and we give them a perspective.
When the capacities are needed, we will have enough Flixbuses on the road. «The aim is to initially keep the supply low enough that it does not have to be discontinued in the event of renewed restrictions.
Before the crisis, the company pursued an aggressive expansion course into new EU and non-EU markets.
Schwämmlein emphasized that these plans will be adhered to even after the crisis.
New goals are in the drawer.
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mic / dpa
