FlixBus is in the final stages of authorization for approximately 20 new routes connecting Ukraine with various European countries, according to an interview with Forbes Ukraine featuring Michał Leman, Vice President of FlixBus in Eastern Europe.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, FlixBus has tripled both its fleet and network within Ukraine. Currently, around 20 routes are in different stages of authorization, including three routes to Germany:
- Chernihiv – Cologne
- Kyiv – Munich
- Odesa – Bremen
Leman refrained from naming additional destinations, as the company awaits confirmation from European regulators. Due to bureaucratic challenges, securing a route between Ukraine and the EU can take up to 18 months. The EU’s complex legal framework for cross-border transportation, along with the low prioritization of these permits, has led to lengthy delays. For instance, it took over a year and a half to obtain authorization for the Kyiv–Brussels route.
FlixBus has been operating in Ukraine since 2019. Before the invasion, the company operated 25–30 buses in the country; that number now exceeds 80. Since February 2022, FlixBus has nearly tripled its route network between Ukraine and the EU, now offering 92 connections. The carrier provides service from Ukraine to Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, and several Southern European countries.
