A New Zealand bus company is using internet ticketing to slash its prices. Based on successful British transport models like Easyjet,
A New Zealand bus company is using internet ticketing to slash its prices.
Based on successful British transport models like Easyjet, nakedbus.com cuts the overheadcosts from the ticketing process by providing ‘internet based’ ticketing (www.nakedbus.com) and reducing the need for middlemen.
The low cost bus company, famous for city to city fares starting at just $1, has expanded its service to include a budget priced Wellington to Picton ferry offering.
nakedbus.com Managing Director Hamish Nuttall says the new integrated ferry crossing service will make it possible for consumers to travel all the way from Paihia to Invercargill with fares starting as low as $43.
The addition of the company’s new online ticketing ferry service across Cook Strait makes the nakedbus.com network New Zealand’s cheapest national public transport offering.
Approaching its third year anniversary, nakedbus.com has enjoyed growth of 90 percent over the past year.
Nuttall says the increase has been boosted by recession-wary consumers with around 40 percent of customers electing to use nakedbus.com over private cars.
Up to 7,000 travellers use nakedbus.com each week.
The increasing demand for the company’s low cost public transport options has led to a fleet upgrade including the purchase of four new buses worth a total of $2 million (NZ).
“The recession is making New Zealander’s smarter about getting good value for money and we have had to adapt to meet the growing needs of domestic travellers looking for a cost effective way to move around the country,” Nuttall says.
“We hope the addition of the new online ferry service will make it easier for them to do that.”