12th Nov 2007 07:05
National Express Group PLC12 November 2007 New Business Developments Launch of new airport transfer service, National Express dot2dot and acquisition of Kings Ferry commuter coach National Express Group PLC ("the Group") is pleased to announce two new businessdevelopments that expand the Group's presence in the urban transport market andprovide its customers with an exciting range of new options for commuting andairport travel. Firstly, the Group today announces the formal launch of its new on-demanddoor-to- door airport transfer service, National Express dot2dot. National Express dot2dot brings together the airport and transport experience ofNational Express and Hotelink, the London airport transfer service acquired bythe Group in April 2007, together with Go Airport Shuttle, the internationalconsortium of airport shuttle providers operating throughout North America ofwhich the Group is a network partner. The new airport transfer service isformally being launched today at the World Travel Market exhibition in London. A fleet of over 60 National Express dot2dot branded vehicles, equipped withstate-of-the-art satellite navigation equipment, is set to provide transfersbetween central London based hotels and Heathrow and Gatwick airports, at ratesthat are competitive with other modes of travel. The vehicles are alsoavailable for special events, private hire and corporate bookings. Bookings canbe made online at www.dot2.com or through travel agents, airlines and otherpartners. Secondly, the Group has acquired the Kings Ferry Travel Group ("Kings Ferry"),the Kent based coach company, which provides popular commuter coach travelservices in London and the South of England. Kings Ferry, which was set upforty years ago, has a fleet of 75 vehicles and over 110 employees and is basednear Gillingham, Kent. The acquisition provides the Group with an entry intothe important London commuter coach market. Kings Ferry caters for 1300commuters a day, bringing them into the City and West End. In addition it has arange of key customers including the BBC, AIG and KLM. Key members of themanagement team will remain with the business. The cash consideration for thebusiness which generated operating profit of £0.7 million on revenue of £10million in the year ended 31st December 2006 was approximately £8 million. Commenting on these developments National Express Group Chief Executive, RichardBowker said: "These two initiatives underline our commitment to develop newproducts for our customers that make travel simpler, more sustainable and costeffective. National Express dot2dot utilises our airport knowledge whilstproviding a comfortable, personalised transfer service for customers to and fromthe airport. This new product is targeted at both business and leisuretravellers providing an easy, convenient and cost effective transfer service.We are delighted that a high quality business like Kings Ferry is joining theGroup. Its coach services provide a vital service to many commuters in theSouth East and this is a market we believe has considerable potential. We lookforward to developing these new travel propositions alongside our existingbusinesses." -ENDS- For further information, please contact: Adam Walker, Finance Director (analysts) National Express Group PLC 020 7529 2000 Nicola Marsden(media) National Express Group PLC 020 7529 2000 Suzanne Bartch/ Brian Hudspith Maitland 020 7379 5151 Notes to Editors • National Express Group is a leading international public transport group. Itcarries over one billion passengers a year worldwide through its bus, train,light rail and express coach operations. It holds leading market positions inthe United Kingdom, North America and Spain; • National Express dot2dot can be found at www.dot2.com; • National Express dot2dot will be exhibiting at World Travel Market at theExcel centre between 12 - 15 November 2007; and • Go Airport Shuttle - formerly known as groundnet.com. National Expressdot2dot is part of the Go Airport Shuttle consortium of airport shuttleproviders, the largest group of airport ground transportation companiesworldwide. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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