FlixBus launches 14-hour overnight Manchester to Paris bus service as alternative to flying to get to Europe

Manchester residents looking to avoid the queues and chaos at the country’s airports in recent months are being offered a new way of getting onto the continent.

Coach provider FlixBus has unveiled a new Manchester to Paris overnight bus service which will run five days a week. It isn’t the quickest route to the City of Light, taking at least 14 hours to complete the journey, but the company says it is an affordable option as fuel prices soar.

FlixBus says taking the bus to Europe is also far better for the planet than getting on an aircraft.

Manchester to Paris on a bus - what you need to know

FlixBus’ new service from Manchester to Paris launched in July and there are buses five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday. They leave Manchester from the Shudehill Interchange and drop off their passengers at Bercy Seine in Paris.

It is an overnight journey and in total takes between 14 and 15 and a half hours.

On Wednesdays, the buses leave Manchester at 6.15pm, getting to Paris at 9.05am, while on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays the bus leaves at 4.55pm and arrives in the French capital at 8.40am.

On Saturdays, departure from Manchester is at 2.50pm and arrival in Paris is at 6.25am.

The buses pick up passengers in Birmingham, Cambridge and London en route and cross the Channel on a Dover to Calais ferry, with passengers being able to stretch their legs on the boat and enjoy a complimentary meal during the crossing.

FlixBus says ticket prices will start at £39.99 from Manchester. Tickets can be purchased via FlixBus’ website here or on the FlixBus app.

The company also reminded would-be passengers that international travel requires a passport and that currently the UK Government guidelines show that visitors to France need a vaccine passport or a negative Covid-19 test to enter the country.

What has FlixBus said about launching its new service?

FlixBus says it is making its move into offering international travel from Manchester as airports across the country have been struggling with massive staff shortages, leading to chaotic scenes, long queues and flights being delayed and cancelled.

It is also talking up the affordability of its coach journeys at a time when the average cost of filling up a family car is around the £100 mark and the possibility of reducing travellers’ carbon footprints by avoiding flying.

Our World In Data found in October 2020 that the UK government’s methodology for greenhouse gas reporting indicated that taking the bus generates around 105g of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometre compared to 156g per kilometre on a short-haul economy flight.

Andreas Schorling, FlixBus UK managing director, said: “Holidays should be about exploring new places, taking a break from the norm, and above all, having fun. With rail, petrol prices and airports in chaos, going by coach is the obvious choice for reliable, enjoyable journeys this summer.

“As the world leading coach provider, we want to continue offering customers the broadest range of affordable travel options. This new line is a key milestone on our journey to becoming the biggest long-distance coach brand in the UK market.”