Despite a challenging 2025, Lux Express carried a record number of passengers

At a time when an uncertain economic environment affected the entire transport sector and domestic tourism was in noticeable decline, Lux Express continued to post moderate growth. In 2025, a record 2.2 million passengers traveled on its domestic routes in Estonia, representing a 3.3% increase compared to the previous year. Over the course of the year, the company generated €3.5 million in tax revenue for the state.

In total, Lux Express buses covered 8.6 million kilometers on domestic routes last year—1.9% more than in 2024. The record result on the home market, achieved without state subsidies, was driven primarily by service development on the Tallinn–Tartu route and investments in new Superior-class buses. Passenger numbers between Tallinn and Tartu grew by nearly 10% year on year, reaching close to 800,000 passengers, thanks to new double-decker buses introduced on the route in May.

According to Ingmar Roos, CEO of the Lux Express Group, the growth achieved is particularly significant given the challenges of the year. “In late spring and early summer, we faced intense seasonal competition across the entire Baltic route network, where cool weather and economic uncertainty kept demand for inter-capital travel lower than expected. We saw a similar trend in Estonia, where the tourism sector was in a sharp downturn and the number of domestic overnight trips fell by 11%. This forced us to reassess our entire route network and service offering very carefully.”

A modest summer and rising prices in Estonia’s domestic tourism left a noticeable mark on those Lux Express routes that typically set records during the summer months. On the Tallinn–Pärnu, Tallinn–Haapsalu, and Tallinn–Kuressaare routes, passenger numbers during the summer period were just under 2% lower than in 2024. At the same time, travel demand proved highly volatile due to major summer concerts and other events held throughout the year.

“Lux Express has made it a priority to respond to changes in demand faster and more efficiently than other mobility service providers in Estonia. In 2025, we added an extra bus to scheduled departures on domestic routes in Estonia on exactly 1,000 occasions,” Roos explained. “Looking back, I would compare the year to a tough and physically demanding football match—one where the game isn’t always pretty, where there’s never a moment to catch your breath, but which ultimately ends in victory thanks to persistence.”

Looking ahead to 2026, the stability and continued development of the Tallinn–Tartu route remain of strategic importance for Lux Express. “This route is the backbone of mobility in Estonia, supporting labor mobility, educational travel, entrepreneurship, and domestic tourism. When the economy is under pressure, the role of mobility services operating without subsidies becomes even more important. We are proud not only of our ability to compete strongly on Estonia’s main routes with heavily subsidized, state-organized public transport, but also of our broader contribution to the economy. In 2025, Lux Express contributed nearly €3.5 million to the Estonian economy through labor taxes and provides employment for more than 200 people in Estonia,” Roos emphasized.

As passenger trust is Lux Express’s greatest asset, the company will continue its consistent development efforts this year, investing in safety and in maintaining a stable, high-quality route network. In the first half of the year, the goal is to increase the number of journeys originating from Narva toward Tallinn and Tartu, offering residents of Ida-Viru County more convenient and reliable travel options across Estonia.

According to Roos, customer feedback shows that in challenging times people increasingly seek reliable and affordable ways to travel, preferring comfortable, reasonably priced, and safe bus services. “The key to a challenging but successful year lies in comfortable buses, a demand-driven timetable, affordable prices, and a safe and reliable service,” Roos said. “Today’s results confirm that this approach works, and we intend to continue developing a functioning mobility service without state subsidies in the future as well.”