Active investment in express buses and the Kobe area

「Higher revenue from the launch of a new express bus route linking Kobe Airport with Minami in Osaka will contribute.」

「高速バス部門においては、神戸空港から大阪エリア（心斎橋・あべの橋）を乗り換えなしで直結する「なにわマリンエアエクスプレス」の運行を４月に開始し」

「After Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai ended, the company resumed operations on the Itami Airport, Kansai Airport and Matsue Izumo routes, which had been partially suspended. It also began operating the Sanda–Kyoto route, providing a direct connection from Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture, to Kyoto Station without transfers.」

「Revenue increased in the express bus segment, owing to the capture of strong demand through access bus services from Kobe and Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture to the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai venue, as well as increased services on the Sannomiya–Awaji Island/Shikoku routes in October 2024.」

「In the express bus segment, the company increased services to meet rising demand for the Himeji–Kansai Airport limousine bus, which resumed operations in December 2023. It also expanded Kobe Airport access buses running directly between Kobe Airport and locations across Hyogo Prefecture, including Awaji, Sumoto, Minamiawaji, Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets and Arima Onsen, where an increase in flights is expected.」

「In the express bus segment, the company worked to improve convenience, including expanding joint operations with other companies on certain routes. Revenue is recovering, led by the Awaji Island route, the Sannomiya–Shikoku route and the Chugoku Highway route (Osaka–Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture).」

「In the express bus segment, the company worked to improve convenience, including expanding joint operations with other companies on certain routes. Revenue has been recovering, led by the Awaji Island route, the Sannomiya–Shikoku route and the Chugoku Highway route (Osaka–Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture).」

「In the shared-route bus segment, the company expanded routes in priority areas, including increasing services on the Shin-Kobe/Sannomiya–Kobe Airport route to improve access to Kobe Airport, where international services are being expanded, and increasing services on the Sanda–Osaka/Shin-Osaka route to improve commuting and school access. The number of IC card users increased 5.6% year on year, while passenger numbers are recovering gradually, partly due to the reclassification of COVID-19 as a Class 5 disease.」

「The company will promote use of the City Loop sightseeing bus and Port Loop articulated bus in Kobe, and work to improve access to Kobe Airport as it expands international services. It will also continue developing facilities to accommodate inbound visitors in preparation for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.」

「In the shared-route bus segment, passenger numbers increased as people became more mobile following the easing of activity restrictions and the transition to living with COVID-19. The number of users of the company's IC cards increased 11.8% year on year. Measures in priority areas, including the launch in April of the City Loop sightseeing bus operating in central Kobe and increased services on the Sanda–Osaka/Shin-Osaka route, contributed to higher revenue.」

「In April, we began operating the Kobe City sightseeing loop bus “City Loop” and the Kobe Yamate Line, extended the articulated bus “Port-Loop,” which connects Sannomiya Station with the waterfront area, to Shin-Kobe Station, and increased services on the Sanda–Osaka/Shin-Osaka route, thereby strengthening routes in priority strategic areas.」

「In central Kobe, which is also designated as a priority area under the plan, we expanded the business by starting operations in April of the Kobe City sightseeing loop bus “City Loop” and the Kobe Yamate Line, and extending the route of the articulated bus “Port Loop.”」

「In the shared-route bus segment, passenger numbers improved from the previous year, which was affected by simultaneous school closures and requests to refrain from going out. In addition, the company revised timetables in response to changes in the external environment, including increasing services by the articulated PortLoop bus in line with the opening of Sannomiya and Shinkocho, and worked to improve profitability.」

「On the Sannomiya–Awaji Island local route, the company added bus stops for popular destinations on Awaji Island's west coast when it revised the timetable in April, receiving a favorable response.」

「In the motor transport business, the route bus segment opened a new depot in Kobe’s Port Island in June 2021, strengthened the articulated bus service “PortLoop,” which began operating in April, to improve circulation between central Sannomiya and the waterfront, and will strengthen access to Sannomiya from locations across Hyogo Prefecture.」

「In the express route bus segment, while monitoring customer trends, the company suspended the Kansai Airport limousine bus and Himeji–Tokyo route and reduced services on other routes. As a result, operating frequency was reduced to approximately 40%, and passenger numbers fell to 59.2% of the previous year (on a combined basis with joint operating companies).」

「In August, we held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new bus depot at the Port Island site in Kobe. The depot is equipped to house and maintain the articulated buses that will operate in Kobe from spring 2021.」

「The routes from Sannomiya toward Shikoku and the Chugoku region were subsequently suspended entirely until around mid-June, after which services were gradually increased. However, routes serving limited destinations, such as airport limousine buses, the USJ route and the Himeji–Arima route, were suspended entirely throughout June.」

「In April this year, the company secured land for a new office in Port Island, Kobe. It regards this office as an important base for further expanding the Group's business in Kobe, including the introduction of articulated buses to strengthen access from Sannomiya to Port Island, Kobe Airport and the waterfront area.」

「In April 2019, the company launched the new Sannomiya–Matsue Izumo route for express route buses and also increased services on existing routes. Revenue increased, partly due to the rebound from the series of natural disasters in the previous year.」

「In April 2019, the company launched the new Sannomiya–Matsue Izumo route for express route buses. Revenue also increased owing to increased services on existing routes, fare revisions on certain routes and the rebound from the series of natural disasters in the previous year.」

「In April 2019, the company launched the new Sannomiya–Matsue Izumo route for express route buses. Revenue also increased owing in part to increased services on existing routes and fare revisions on certain routes.」

「Express route buses also saw strong performance, including increased services on the Akashi City/Kobe Nishi Ward–Sannomiya route and the airport limousine route.」

「Capturing travel demand in the Osaka and Kobe areas and from inbound visitors through the introduction of new buses,」

「Capturing travel demand in the Osaka and Kobe areas and from inbound visitors through the introduction of new buses,」

「Capturing travel demand in the Osaka and Kobe areas and from inbound visitors through the introduction of new buses,」

「Revenue increased for express route buses, owing in part to strong performance by the Akashi City/Kobe Nishi Ward–Sannomiya and Sannomiya–USJ routes. In addition, operation of Sky Bus Kobe, a regular sightseeing bus service in Kobe using an open-top double-decker bus, contributed to the revenue increase from March 2017.」

「Revenue increased for express route buses, owing in part to strong performance by the Akashi City/Kobe Nishi Ward–Sannomiya and Sannomiya–USJ routes. In addition, operation of Sky Bus Kobe, a regular sightseeing bus service in Kobe using an open-top double-decker bus, contributed to the revenue increase from March 2017.」

「Revenue increased for express route buses, owing in part to strong performance by the Akashi City/Kobe Nishi Ward–Sannomiya and Sannomiya–USJ routes. In addition, in March 2017, the company began operating Sky Bus Kobe, a regular sightseeing bus service in Kobe using an open-top double-decker bus, and focused on attracting tourism demand.」

「The company began operating Sky Bus Kobe, a regular sightseeing bus service in Kobe, using an open-top double-decker bus.」

「Revenue increased for express route buses, owing in part to increased service frequency on the Akashi City/Kobe Nishi Ward–Sannomiya route and strong performance by the limousine bus connecting Kansai International Airport and Himeji Station.」

「Revenue increased for express route buses, owing in part to increased service frequency on the Akashi City/Kobe Nishi Ward–Sannomiya route and strong performance by the limousine bus connecting Kansai International Airport and Himeji Station.」

「Revenue increased for express route buses, owing in part to increased service frequency on the Shiso City Yamazaki–Sannomiya and Akashi City/Kobe Nishi Ward–Sannomiya routes.」

「In the express bus business and the Kobe area, which the company positions as growth areas, it will actively invest to expand the business.」