The announcement of strikes at several European airports, including Portugal, has led many passengers to opt for alternative means of transport, resulting in an increase in demand for companies that provide road transport, such as FlixBus, during the Christmas and New Year period, especially on international connections with France, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
To meet this demand, the company says it has reinforced its offer on all domestic and international routes.
On connections between Switzerland and Luxembourg and the cities of Lisbon and Porto, demand grew by around 30%, while trips to Paris recorded an increase of approximately 50% in departures from Lisbon and 25% in departures from Porto.
Tiago Cavaco Alves, director of FlixBus operations in Portugal, highlights that “the announcement of strikes at several European airports during the festive season, including in Portugal, is having a direct impact on FlixBus bookings, not only in Portugal, but also abroad, especially in countries where there is a large Portuguese community, such as France, Luxembourg, or Switzerland”.
The official adds that “these potential disruptions associated with air transport during the month of December are leading travelers to look for a travel alternative that can guarantee travel with more control and predictability this Christmas and the end of the year, something they find on the FlixBus network”.
The use of the bus can also be explained by seasonal reasons: connections to Galicia registered growth of 20% from Lisbon and 40% from Porto, driven by the demand for traditional Christmas destinations, such as the illuminations of Vigo.
On national territory, FlixBus reported an overall increase in demand of 12% compared to the same period of the previous year and reinforced routes between Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon, as well as connections to the Algarve.
The Lisbon–Porto connection will have around 180 daily trips (90 in each direction), 8% more than in 2024.
In turn, the Algarve showed an increase in demand of 11%, with Vila Real de Santo António, Vilamoura, Tavira and Olhão among the most popular destinations for New Year’s Eve.
In addition to the seasonal reinforcements, FlixBus announced a new line that directly connects Figueira da Foz to Coimbra, Tomar and Santarém, with four daily schedules (two in each direction), aiming to increase the mobility offer in the Center of the country.
Regarding this connection, Tiago Cavaco Alves highlights that “Figueira da Foz continues to be one of the most popular destinations to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Portugal, and this new line arrives at the right time for those who want to visit the city and enjoy the festivities”.
Operating in Portugal since 2017, the company highlights that bus trips can cost up to ten times less than car trips, maintaining similar travel times. These are factors that, according to FlixBus, also help to explain the growing demand for express transport services during the festive period.