Internorte
Internorte is a Portuguese society of private transporters, founded in 1980 and headquartered in Porto, operating international coach services connecting 120+ Portuguese locations with Spain, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg and 22 additional European countries via the Eurolines network, serving 500,000+ passengers annually through direct, agent and online channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersPorto, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Internorte does
Internorte is a Portuguese international long-distance coach operator, legally structured as a "society of private transporters" (sociedade de transportadores privados) and headquartered at Rua da Estação, nº 4, Porto. Founded in 1980 and operating under the dual brands Internorte and Intercentro, the company connects 120+ Portuguese pickup and drop-off locations with five directly served European countries — Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland and Luxembourg — and reaches an additional 22 European countries via its partnership with the Eurolines and Isilines networks. The core product is intercity passenger coach transport, with fares ranging from approximately €51 (Lisbon–Bilbao) to €92 (Viseu–Lausanne), sold through dedicated routes such as Portugal–Paris, Portugal–Lyon, Portugal–Marseille, Portugal–Nice, Portugal–Clermont-Ferrand, Portugal–Bilbao and Switzerland–Portugal, all served by a modern fleet with onboard WiFi, power outlets, air conditioning, reclining seats and toilets.
The business model is transaction-based: revenue is generated through per-ticket booking and modification fees (€8 per ticket change), equipment transport fees (€15 per bicycle or surfboard on Portugal–Spain routes), and commissions on fares sold via the rede-expressos.pt platform, call center, two company-owned branches (Oriente Station Lisbon, Casa da Música Porto), and a network of 200+ authorized agents across Portugal, France, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Customer segmentation spans individual travelers (primary), Erasmus and university students (20% discount via ESN partnerships), seniors (10% off), children (up to 70% off), groups (custom pricing), and corporate/institutional members (15% off via partnerships with Intermarché, IPLEIRIA, ISTEC, Universidade Atlântica, ASSP and FFP). A frequent passenger loyalty program (50% off the 6th ticket, free 11th ticket) drives repeat usage. The company publicly advertises sustainability positioning (lower emissions vs. car and air travel) as a differentiator and transports 500,000+ passengers annually.
There is no disclosed proprietary technology platform, no public API, no AI/ML capabilities, and no external equity funding. Headcount is reported at 11–50 employees, consistent with a lean coordinating and marketing entity rather than an asset-heavy fleet operator; fleet ownership and driver employment sit with the member operators of the society. The company operates a multi-language (PT/EN/FR/ES) website, a Facebook presence, and a Mailchimp newsletter, but the core go-to-market motion is sales-led and channel-driven rather than digital-led.
Internorte firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Internorte
- Legal name
- Internorte
- Website
- https://internorte.pt
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Internorte is a Portuguese society of private transporters, founded in 1980 and headquartered in Porto, operating international coach services connecting 120+ Portuguese locations with Spain, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg and 22 additional European countries via the Eurolines network, serving 500,000+ passengers annually through direct, agent and online channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Internorte industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Coach Transportation
- NAICS
- Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521), Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (48599)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cross-Border/International Scheduled Coach Operators (THAIADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Intercity Coach Operators (Scheduled Network) (THAIADAA), Cross-Border / International Coach Operators (TLAFAFAD), Budget / No-Frills Coach Operators (TLAFAFAF)
Keywords
Where Internorte is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Porto
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Internorte business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Passenger Ticket Sales: Core revenue from selling one-way and return tickets for international coach travel between Portugal and European destinations. Ticket prices vary based on route, availability, time of year, and fare type (adult, youth, senior, student). Booking fees are applied per ticket.
- Bicycle and Equipment Transport: Additional revenue stream from transporting bicycles and surfboards at €15 per equipment on Portugal-Spain direct routes, subject to availability.
- Ticket Modification Fees: Revenue from modification fees (€8 per ticket) when passengers change travel dates, times, or routes on modifiable tickets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard adult fare for all routes |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Youth and senior discounted fares |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Child fares |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Student fares |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Group discounts |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Frequent passenger rewards |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Internorte product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Internorte is a private association of transport operators (society of private transporters) that operates international coach transport services connecting 120+ Portuguese locations with major European destinations including Spain, France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, plus connections to 22 additional European countries through the Eurolines partnership. The company sells passenger tickets for one-way and return coach journeys, with onboard amenities (WiFi, power outlets, AC, reclining seats), various discount programs for youth, seniors, students, and frequent travelers, and ticket booking through website, call center, physical branches, and authorized travel agents.
Product overview
Internorte/Intercentro is an association of private transport operators with over 40 years of experience offering international coach transport services. The company operates a network connecting more than 120 locations in Portugal with major European destinations including Spain, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and 22 additional European countries through the Eurolines partnership. The core offering is international passenger coach transport, supplemented by onboard services (WiFi, power outlets, air conditioning, reclining seats), various discount programs (age-based, student, frequent traveler), and multiple booking channels including online, call center, and authorized agents. Routes include dedicated services to Lyon, Paris, Bilbao, and Switzerland with regular departures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 500,000+ passengers transported annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Internorte
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Internorte technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Internorte partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Boom Festivalminor15% discount for all Boom Festival 2018 participants purchasing tickets between Castelo Branco and any city in the Internorte network during July. 11th ticket free with purchase of 10 tickets (dates and routes must be same).
- EurolinescorePartnership with Eurolines network enables Internorte to offer connections to 22 additional European countries beyond its own 5-country network. This integration allows passengers to access a broader range of European destinations through a single ticketing system.
- IsilinescoreIntegration with Isilines transport network complements Internorte's own routes, providing a wider service offering at reduced costs while maintaining quality standards across the combined network.
- ESN – Erasmus Social Networkminor20% discount for all Erasmus students purchasing one-way or round trip tickets (valid up to 6 months) for any Internorte network destination. Must present ESN card or member number. Valid only on adult fare, not cumulative with other discounts.
- ASSP - Associação Socioprofissional da Segurança Privadaminor15% discount for all ASSP members and accompanying family members purchasing tickets for any Internorte network destination. Valid for 6 months. Must present ASSP membership card or number.
- Federação Folclore Português (FFP)minor15% discount for all FFP members and employees purchasing tickets for any Internorte network destination. Valid for 6 months.
- Intermarchéminor15% discount for all Intermarché customers with loyalty card and employees (plus accompanying family members) purchasing tickets for any Internorte network destination. Valid for 6 months.
- Instituto Politécnico de Leiria (IPLEIRIA)minor15% discount for all IPLEIRIA students, faculty, and employees purchasing tickets for any Internorte network destination. Valid for 6 months. Available at Oriente Station or Casa da Música agencies.
- Instituto Superior de Tecnologias Avançadas (ISTEC)minor15% discount for all ISTEC students, faculty, and employees purchasing tickets for any Internorte network destination. Valid for 6 months. Available at Oriente Station or Casa da Música agencies.
- Universidade Atlânticaminor15% discount for all Universidade Atlântica students, faculty, and employees purchasing tickets for any Internorte network destination. Valid for 6 months. Must present UA membership card.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Internorte competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Damas: Regional Spanish coach operator running scheduled services between southern Spain and Portugal. Comparable regional cross-border peer operating a similar asset-heavy coach model on adjacent Iberian corridors.
Direct peers
- Isilines: French regional long-distance coach operator. Internorte's strategic partner for extending reach into French cities; comparable on route structure and partner-network distribution model.
- FlixBus: Pan-European low-cost long-distance coach operator. Directly competes with Internorte on Portugal–Spain/France/Switzerland corridors via its own routes and prior absorption of Eurolines-related assets, making it the most direct comparable for network, pricing, and digital strategy.
- ALSA: Spain's leading national and international coach operator with deep Iberian coverage. Competes with Internorte on Portugal–Spain cross-border routes and is the most relevant direct peer in the Iberian Peninsula.
- Rede Expressos: Portugal's dominant domestic and select international coach network and the platform that actually hosts Internorte's ticket sales (rede-expressos.pt). Overlapping routes, pricing model, and customer base make it a direct peer and a key channel partner.
- Eurolines: Network of national coach operators providing cross-border services across Europe. Internorte's strategic partner for reaching 22 additional countries; comparable on international coach network structure and European long-distance market.
- BlaBlaCar Bus: French low-cost long-distance coach brand (formerly Ouibus) operated by BlaBlaCar. Competes with Internorte on Portugal–France routes (Paris, Lyon) with a strong app-driven, digital-native offering.
Emerging players
- BlaBlaCar: Long-distance rideshare platform that also operates a coach service. Competes for the same Portugal–Europe leisure traveler base with a different asset-light model and a much stronger digital/app ecosystem.
- Linebus: Spanish long-distance coach operator focused on Portugal–Spain cross-border routes. Directly overlaps Internorte's Portugal–Spain product on fares, routes, and target customer.
Broad incumbents
- National Express: UK-based international coach and bus operator with pan-European services (including ALSA partnership). Comparable as a broader incumbent in international scheduled coach with deeper financial and digital resources.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Internorte social profiles
Digital presenceInternorte financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Internorte leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Internorte funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Internorte M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Internorte
What does Internorte do?
Internorte is a private association of transport operators (society of private transporters) that operates international coach transport services connecting 120+ Portuguese locations with major European destinations including Spain, France, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, plus connections to 22 additional European countries through the Eurolines partnership. The company sells passenger tickets for one-way and return coach journeys, with onboard amenities (WiFi, power outlets, AC, reclining seats), various discount programs for youth, seniors, students, and frequent travelers, and ticket booking through website, call center, physical branches, and authorized travel agents.
Is Internorte a public or private company?
Internorte is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Internorte founded?
Internorte was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Internorte based?
Internorte is headquartered in Porto, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does Internorte make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Passenger Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are bicycle and Equipment Transport and ticket Modification Fees.
Who are Internorte's main competitors?
Damas is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Isilines, FlixBus, ALSA, Rede Expressos, Eurolines and BlaBlaCar Bus. Emerging players are BlaBlaCar and Linebus. National Express is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Internorte have an API?
No public API is recorded for Internorte.
What industry is Internorte in?
Internorte's product category is International Coach Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAIADAC, Cross-Border/International Scheduled Coach Operators, with a secondary code of THAIADAA, National Intercity Coach Operators (Scheduled Network). Its NAICS code is 48521 and its SIC code is 4100.