Cheap-fare OnniBus bought by Koiviston Auto

The biggest bus operating company in Finland Koiviston Auto purchased the cheap-fare bus OnniBus.com, said a press release on Thursday.

Chief Executive Officer of OnniBus Lauri Helke said that there will be no change from the perspective of passengers and the cheap ticket rate and quality services will remain unchanged.

“From a customer perspective there will be no change to what OnniBus.com does. We remain totally focussed on providing our customers with consistently great service and developing innovative, fantastic value travel choices. You can still book great value, fast, friendly and reliable travel across Finland from €1 and a €1 booking fee on our website at www.onnibus.com,” Lauri Helke said.

OnniBus.com was founded by Finnish entrepreneurs Lauri Helke, Petteri Rantala and Pekka Motto in 2012 and quickly became a disruptive influence on the Finnish intercity transport market.

Following growth capital investment from Souter Investments in 2014, OnniBus.com relaunched offering a fast and reliable Finnish intercity coach network. The company pioneered the use of dynamic, yield managed pricing and built an online distribution and sales model via its website www.onnibus.com. Today OnniBus.com serves more than 300,000 passengers every month, and operates a national network connecting customers in over 120 cities, towns and villages across Finland. The business employs more than 230 people.

In 2015, OnniBus.com was voted first in a public survey of who provided the best customer experience in Finland, and in 2016 OnniBus.com was ranked number one for customer communication and as the fourth most trusted organisation in Finland, ranking only behind the Red Cross, Save the Children and UNICEF.

John Berthinussen, Investment Director at Souter Investments commented: “OnniBus.com is a great example of a team of entrepreneurs spotting a market opportunity and going for it. Against the backdrop of a period of great innovation, change and disruption in the transport and mobility industry, Souter Investments has been delighted to provide our financial, management and operational support to Lauri, Petteri and their team, together creating a true market leading business.”

Antti Norrlin, Chief Executive of Koiviston Auto added: “Growing by acquisitions has always been a part of Koiviston Auto’s strategy. By teaming up with OnniBus.com we will get a great deal of new knowledge in marketing, online sales and dynamic pricing. These are exactly the things we need in order to offer even better service to our customers. The intercity network of OnniBus.com will be expanded and the great OnniBus.com brand and services will be developed under the supervision of the present OnniBus.com management.”

OnniBus.com is an express coach operator offering fast, cheap and reliable city to city travel across Finland. OnniBus.com operates more than 180 departures a day, connecting more than 120 Finnish cities and towns. Tickets can be booked online at www.OnniBus.com.

OnniBus.com operates a fleet of luxury double deck coaches, equipped with reclining leather seats, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, free at-seat power outlets for charging mobile phones, tablets and laptops, and toilet facilities. Cities and towns served by OnniBus.com include: Helsinki, Espoo, Heinola, Hämeenlinna, Iisalmi, Imatra, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kemi, Kokkola, Kotka, Kouvola, Kuopio, Lahti, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pori, Porvoo, Rauma, Rovaniemi, Savonlinna, Seinäjoki, Tampere, Turku, Vantaa and Vaasa.