BlaBlaBus routes continued by ex-BlaBlaCar employees as "PACO"

PACO: A New French Bus Operator Is Bringing Back Routes Abandoned by BlaBlaCar Bus

With BlaBlaCar Bus preparing to leave the long-distance coach market in France, a new operator called PACO is stepping in. But its arrival highlights a bigger question for travellers: how do you find all available bus connections when no single booking platform shows everything?

A new competitor enters the French long-distance bus market

The French long-distance bus market is about to get a new player. PACO, a newly founded coach company, plans to start operating on 14 January 2027, taking over some of the routes previously served by BlaBlaCar Bus.

The timing is no coincidence.

In April 2026, BlaBlaCar announced its intention to discontinue its long-distance bus operations, citing persistent structural losses and difficult market conditions. Its withdrawal leaves a significant gap in the French coach market, where FlixBus is already the dominant player.

PACO wants to make sure that travellers do not lose all their existing connections.

The company was founded by three entrepreneurs: Arthur Bertrand, Olivio Bugosen and Louis Carron-Cabaret. Interestingly, Bertrand and Bugosen are both former BlaBlaCar employees, bringing first-hand experience of the business they are now looking to replace.

Rather than operating its own fleet, PACO follows a model similar to the one used by BlaBlaCar Bus: independent coach companies operate the vehicles, while PACO handles the commercial side, technology and ticket distribution.

According to the company, its ambition is to offer a more premium coach experience, including Wi-Fi, power sockets, complimentary water and real-time vehicle tracking.

The first departures are scheduled for January 2027, with connections from major French cities including Lyon, Rennes, Marseille, Bordeaux and Nice.

Tickets are already available through PACO's official website.

What happens to the routes previously operated by BlaBlaCar Bus?

The departure of BlaBlaCar Bus does not necessarily mean that all its former connections will disappear permanently.

PACO intends to bring some of these routes back, working with independent French coach operators who already have experience running long-distance services.

However, this does not mean that PACO will simply take over the entire BlaBlaCar Bus network. The company is starting cautiously, with an initial selection of routes and plans for gradual expansion.

According to industry reporting, the new company is also working with a different commercial model. Instead of guaranteeing transport partners a minimum revenue per kilometre, PACO intends to share ticket revenues with the operators.

This gives independent coach companies an opportunity to build their own business, but also means they take on more of the financial risk if seats remain empty.

For travellers, the important question is therefore not just which routes PACO launches, but which alternatives will actually be available on a particular travel date.

An interesting detail: PACO's connections do not necessarily appear on BlaBlaCar

There is another interesting development worth paying attention to.

When checking PACO's connections, travellers may find that some journeys are not displayed on BlaBlaCar's booking platform, even though BlaBlaCar continues to show connections offered by its main competitor, FlixBus.

This illustrates an important distinction: a transport operator and a booking platform are not the same thing.

An operator can sell tickets directly through its own website while also distributing its inventory through selected third-party platforms. There is no guarantee that every platform has access to every operator's complete inventory.

PACO has indicated that its tickets will be sold through its own website and app, with additional distribution partnerships planned.

Consequently, travellers should not assume that searching BlaBlaCar will reveal every available PACO connection.

The same principle applies to other coach operators and booking platforms across Europe.

PACO, FlixBus, BlaBlaCar and other alternatives: Where should you book?

For anyone planning a long-distance journey in France, the arrival of PACO creates another option.

But which one is best?

Here are the main alternatives worth checking:

1. PACO – A new alternative for former BlaBlaCar Bus routes

PACO is particularly interesting for travellers looking for connections previously served by BlaBlaCar Bus.

Its focus is on independent French coach operators and a slightly more premium travel experience.

As a new entrant, its initial network will be limited, so it will be important to check whether it actually serves your desired route and travel date.

2. FlixBus – The established market leader

FlixBus remains the most important competitor in the French long-distance coach market.

Its extensive European network makes it a natural starting point for many journeys, particularly international connections.

However, even a large operator cannot offer every possible connection. Comparing other operators can sometimes reveal alternatives with better departure times, prices or routes.

3. BlaBlaCar – Not just buses

BlaBlaCar continues to be relevant even as its bus operations are discontinued.

Its carpooling marketplace connects drivers with passengers travelling in the same direction. Depending on the journey, this can be an attractive alternative to traditional coaches. Also, you can buy all FlixBus tickets on BlaBlaCar as well. Same price but maybe a bit different payment options.

For some routes, carpooling may offer more convenient departure times or direct connections that are difficult to find by bus.

4. Other independent coach operators

France and the rest of Europe have many regional and independent coach companies.

Some operate their own ticketing websites, while others distribute their services through larger platforms or aggregators.

These operators can be particularly relevant on regional and cross-border routes, where the big international brands do not always have the best coverage.

Why comparing bus tickets matters more than ever

The launch of PACO demonstrates something that is easy to overlook when booking a trip online: there is no guarantee that one website shows all available transport options.

Different platforms have different commercial agreements, distribution partnerships and operator coverage.

This can lead to several situations:

• A connection is available directly from an operator but does not appear on a major booking platform.

• Two booking platforms show different prices for what appears to be the same journey.

• An independent operator offers a direct connection that larger brands do not provide.

• A route is available through a regional booking website but is missing from international aggregators.

• A cheaper connection exists, but requires a different departure station or a slightly different departure time.

For travellers, this means that relying on a single website can result in missed opportunities.

It is also worth comparing more than just the ticket price. Journey duration, departure and arrival stations, luggage allowances, transfer requirements and booking conditions can make a considerable difference.

Compare your options before booking

This is exactly why comparing different transport providers is so useful.

Instead of checking FlixBus, BlaBlaCar, PACO and several independent operators one by one, travellers can use a transport comparison platform to discover available connections from multiple providers.

TravelCoon helps travellers compare bus connections between European cities, bringing different transport providers together in one search.

As new operators such as PACO enter the market, having an overview of different providers becomes increasingly important.

The goal is simple: find the connection that works best for your journey, rather than booking the first result you happen to find.

The future of long-distance buses in France

PACO's arrival is encouraging news for travellers who were concerned about the withdrawal of BlaBlaCar Bus.

It shows that there are entrepreneurs and independent coach operators willing to explore new business models and keep long-distance connections alive.

However, the real test will be whether PACO can build a reliable network, attract passengers and establish a sustainable relationship with its operating partners.

For travellers, one thing is already clear: the French coach market is changing, and comparing different operators and booking platforms is becoming more important than ever.

Don't assume that the cheapest or best connection is always available on the platform you usually use. Compare before you book.