SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A European carrier is hoping to transform the way Southern California travels between major cities.
FlixBus will start offering service to 10 Southern California cities, including in San Diego, beginning May 31. The service, which has operated within Europe since 2013, is hoping to carve out a presence with discounted ticket prices and some high-tech additions.
For a limited time, travelers can snag fares from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for as low as $3 on select dates throughout June, according to the service's website. The prices are set to eventually rise.
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Fares to and from San Diego are beginning as low as $10 to L.A. or $20 to Las Vegas, with departures from El Cajon, La Jolla, San Diego State University, and the San Diego Zoo. The company hopes to establish more stops in the future.
FlixBus said it hopes to eventually have 180 routes linking the southwest U.S. The May 31 launch will also include two Nevada cities and seven in Arizona.
"We are not coming here for being another player in the market. We want to reinvent the market," André Schwämmlein, founder and CEO of FlixMobility, said during a Los Angeles press conference. "We want to reinvent this mode of transportation."
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The service hopes it can attract a new wave of bus commuters with its brightly-colored buses and amenities including free Wi-Fi, GPS tracking, power outlets, Alexa and Google Voice compatibility, and onboard entertainment.
"We want to make this the best ride you can imagine," Schwämmlein said. "This should change the image of the bus and the industry."
