BlaBlaCar announced on Tuesday April 21 that it would cease its activity as a bus operator in France under the brand “BlaBlaCar Bus” by the end of 2026, France Inter learned on Tuesday April 21, confirming information from Le Figaro. Forty positions will be eliminated.
“This project responds to the structural economic difficulties that BlaBlaCar is experiencing in this activity,” said the company in a press release consulted by France Inter. An activity which “generates recurring and significant operating losses”. BlaBlaCar therefore believes that there are “no prospects for improvement due to a persistent imbalance between increasing operating costs and the realities of a very competitive market”.
The end of BlaBlaCar Bus will lead to “the elimination of 40 positions”, out of the 800 that the company has, which says it is “fully mobilized” to support the employees concerned “throughout the process”. “BlaBlaCar has initiated an information and consultation phase with employee representatives. Until the outcome of these consultations, BlaBlaCar Bus activities will continue normally.”
Despite everything, “the distribution of bus tickets will continue” on the BlablaCar platform, which wants to “strengthen its role as a marketplace in France by supporting independent coach partners who would like to operate these lines. »
BlaBlaCar Bus nevertheless achieved the best results in its history last year: more than 6 million passengers spread over 400 lines. But the profitability of these buses is “low, even negative”, according to Arnaud Aymé, transport specialist at Sia Partners, speaking to France Inter.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
