A new coach service connecting London Stansted Airport with Finsbury Park has been launched today, offering a direct link between the north London transport hub and one of the UK’s busiest airports. The route, operated by Luxembourg-based Flibco, is designed to give passengers and airport staff a cheaper, greener alternative to driving, as the government pushes ahead with its wider ambitions to ease congestion on roads serving major airports.
Flibco, which entered the UK market in early 2025 with an initial service linking Stansted to central London, said it is investing heavily in its British operations. The company has added 18 new Scania-based Caetano Levante coaches to its UK fleet, all meeting Euro 6 emissions standards and equipped with free WiFi, USB charging ports and air conditioning. A return ticket on the new Finsbury Park route costs approximately £19, without luggage, though cheaper fares may be available if booked in advance. Flibco operates in partnership with The Coach Travel Group, and last year saw global transport and travel-tech leader Flix acquire a majority share in the business — a move expected to accelerate its expansion at UK airports.
The company’s Country Director for the UK, Mandy Round, said: “We are delighted to announce our further expansion into the UK with a fleet of 18 brand new coaches and our new London Stansted to Finsbury Park route. As passenger numbers continue to grow, improving how people travel to and from airports is becoming increasingly important. Expanding public transport options is a key part of that solution. London Stansted is the start of our investment in the UK market.” Flibco has stated it plans to invest up to £45 million in the UK over the next five years, with the aim of creating 80 jobs as the service grows.
Government’s Better Connected Strategy
The launch of the new coach service aligns directly with the government’s “Better Connected” strategy, led by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. The strategy sets out a framework to better integrate ports — including airports — with public transport networks, reducing pressure on roads and cutting carbon emissions. It is guided by three core principles: putting people at the heart of transport, using transport to create better-connected places, and working in partnership with local leaders and experts. Key priorities include simplifying payments and information, providing dependable and safe journeys, making travel accessible and affordable, creating healthier communities, aligning transport and development, championing data and technology, empowering local leaders, and optimising decision-making.
The government has backed the strategy with £30 billion of transport investment, alongside a £10 million Integration Innovation Fund and a £30 million digital twin programme designed to improve how transport systems are planned and managed. Heidi Alexander, who was appointed Secretary of State for Transport in November 2024 and previously served as Deputy Mayor of London for Transport under Sadiq Khan, has made decarbonising the transport network, improving rail reliability, and supporting the shift to electric vehicles central to her agenda. She has also been vocal about the need for cheaper, greener, and more reliable transport.
More than 300 million passengers travelled through UK airports last year, contributing significantly to road congestion, and the government sees improving public transport links as a direct way to address that. Coach travel has the least harmful environmental impact of all motorised transport modes, excluding cycling and walking. A single coach journey can save 61.8kg of CO2 emissions compared to travelling by car. For a London to Edinburgh journey, a coach produces approximately 9.2kg of CO2 per passenger, compared to 96.4kg for a plane, 71kg for a car, and 11.9kg for a train. One full coach can remove up to 50 cars from the road, and analysis suggests that a 10% increase in annual UK coach journeys could result in over 17 million fewer car journeys, significantly cutting traffic jams.
Stansted’s Public Transport Record
Stansted Airport already holds a strong position on public transport use. The airport’s Surface Access Strategy Manager, Steve Mills, said: “London Stansted is the UK’s number one major airport for public transport use by passengers with nearly 50% travelling by coach, bus or train.” That figure has risen slightly in the past year, with more than 48% of passengers now using public transport to reach the airport. The airport, which serves over 27 million passengers annually, has significant runway capacity but its surface access infrastructure — particularly the rail network — has suffered from long-term underinvestment, leading to poor reliability and longer journey times.
Mr Mills added: “These new services to and from Finsbury Park and Enfield, plus our growing and successful partnership with Flibco, will help us maintain and build on our proud track record as the airport continues to grow.” Flibco’s initial UK service from Stansted connected to Stratford and Liverpool Street, while National Express also operates routes from the airport, with some seeing frequency increases or route changes. FlixBus now offers tickets for Flibco services between Stansted and central London via its website and app, strengthening its presence in the UK coach market.
Finsbury Park, the terminus for the new route, is a major transport interchange — ranked by Transport for London as a top priority for improvement in its draft Interchange Plan. Recent upgrades include complete step-free access at Finsbury Park railway station following the installation of two new lifts under the Department for Transport’s “Access for All” scheme, alongside upgraded CCTV, lighting, signage and tactile paving. The City North development nearby has added a new western station ticket hall, along with new homes, office space, shops and restaurants. Since 2018, Finsbury Park has also been a stopping point for Thameslink cross-London services, further cementing its role as a key connection point. Flibco’s own customer feedback on platforms such as Trustpilot has generally highlighted positive experiences of service, punctuality and staff, though some reviews note mixed views on location and booking processes, and occasional reports of aggressive driving.
