Paco, a new French startup, is launching long-distance coach services in France starting January 15, 2027, entering the market dominated by Germany’s FlixBus. The service will initially connect Bordeaux, Marseille, Nantes, and Toulouse, with Paris not included in the initial rollout. Tickets have been available for purchase since November 3 on the company's website, which was developed by the French software editor Wiremind. Wiremind also manages Intercités train ticketing and real-time pricing for Ouigo high-speed trains, leveraging its existing infrastructure to handle Paco's distribution, pricing, and after-sales service. [1]
Paco operates under an asset-light model, providing its brand, technology, and customer service to independent bus operators without owning its own fleet. Co-founder Louis Carron-Cabaret emphasizes that service reliability will be the key differentiator for both travelers and carriers. The startup was founded by three former collaborators of BlaBlaCar Bus, which is set to cease its coach transport operations in January 2027 due to accumulated losses. BlaBlaCar Bus previously held 34% of the French long-distance bus market in 2025, while FlixBus controlled 65%. Post-January 2027, BlaBlaCar will transition solely to a marketplace model for independent coaches. The sector, liberalized by the 2015 'Macron Law', remains economically precarious due to the low prices required to attract its primarily young demographic. [1]
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