Berlinas

What Berlinas does

Berlinas del Fonce S.A. (operating as Berlinas) is a Colombian inter-municipal passenger land transportation company founded in 1954 and headquartered in Bogotá. The company operates a multi-tier fleet of buses across 7 major Colombian cities — Bogotá, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Santa Marta, and Pamplona — plus approximately 30 intermediate destinations, primarily in the Andean and Caribbean regions. Its service portfolio includes three core product tiers: Berlinave Súper Plus (luxury double-decker), Berlinave Plus (double-decker with interactive screens), and Berlinave Súper Confort (single-floor luxury), all equipped with WiFi, USB charging, satellite tracking, and reclining seats. Berlinastur, a wholly-owned subsidiary, operates Sprinter vans for charter and tourist services, and offers bundled vacation packages with approximately 11 partner hotels.

The company's technical platform comprises a digital ticketing portal (viaje.berlinasdelfonce.com powered by Reserhub), satellite-based fleet monitoring, onboard streaming entertainment on premium tiers, and multiple payment integrations (Visa, MasterCard, PSE, Nequi, Daviplata, Efecty). Revenue is generated primarily through one-time passenger ticket sales across fixed routes, with ancillary streams from tourist packages, vehicle/charter rentals, a Microseguro add-on insurance product ($500-$1,000 COP), baggage excess fees, and a Viajero Frecuente loyalty program offering 30% ticket discounts. The company employs a mixed direct-to-consumer and inside-sales go-to-market model through 20+ physical ticket offices, call centers, WhatsApp, home delivery in Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, and affinity partnerships (Colsubsidio, CAFAM, Fuerza Pública, Vive Colombia Joven, Soy Cultura).

Berlinas operates under Resolution 264 of 2020 from the Ministry of Transport, holds ISO 9001:2015 certification audited by SGS, and runs a group structure that includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Berlinastur S.A., Transportes CIT S.A.S., and Tourline Express S.A.S. The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding rounds or public listing. Customer segments span individual travelers, tourism/leisure travelers, frequent loyalty members, corporate/group charter clients, and affinity-program members — all served primarily through B2C mass-market channels rather than named enterprise accounts.

Name

Berlinas

Legal name

Transportes y Turismo Berlinas del Fonce S.A.

Website

https://berlinasdelfonce.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Berlinas del Fonce S.A. is a Colombian inter-municipal passenger bus transport company founded in 1954, operating a multi-tier fleet across 7 major Colombian cities and ~30 intermediate destinations, serving individual travelers, tourists, frequent travelers, and corporate groups through ticketed routes, tourist packages, and charter services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intercity Bus Passenger Transportation

NAICS

Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (48521), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

National Intercity Coach Operators (Scheduled Network) (THAIADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tour Bus Leasing/Rental (Sightseeing) (TLABADAK)

Keywords

• Intercity bus transport
• Passenger transportation services
• Tourist travel packages
• Charter vehicle rental
• Colombian ground transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passenger Bus Tickets: Core revenue from sale of inter-municipal bus tickets across fixed routes connecting major Colombian cities. Tickets are sold one-way or round-trip, with confirmed dates. Pricing varies by route, season, and service tier (Berlinave Súper Plus, Berlinave Plus, Berlinave Súper Confort).
2. Tourist Packages: Berlinastur branded bundled tourist packages combining bus transport, hotel accommodation, and breakfast. Sold at fixed per-person pricing per accommodation type (sencilla/doble/triple). Operated by Berlinastur S.A. travel agency.
3. Vehicle Rental / Charter: Special transport service renting vehicles (Sprinter vans and larger coaches) for private group travel. Quote-based pricing tailored to customer need, origin-destination, date, and passenger count. Contact via dedicated email.
4. Microseguro (Add-on Insurance): Optional micro-insurance product sold as an add-on at ticket purchase for $1,000 COP on long-haul routes and $500 COP on special service. Covers baggage loss, medical assistance, and accident coverage during transit.
5. Baggage Excess Fees: Revenue from excess baggage charges when passengers exceed standard allowance (one personal item, one carry-on, one checked bag). Excess fees charged at up to one daily minimum wage (SMLDV) per extra piece.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Berlinas (legally Transportes y Turismo Berlinas del Fonce S.A.) is a Colombian inter-municipal passenger bus transportation company operating since 1954. It sells bus tickets across multiple service tiers (Berlinave Súper Plus luxury double-decker, Berlinave Plus double-decker, Berlinave Súper Confort single-floor) connecting major Colombian cities including Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Santa Marta, and Pamplona. Complementary offerings include bundled tourist packages (Planes Turísticos) combining transport with hotel accommodation, Sprinter-van special transport (Berlinastur), charter vehicle rental, and a frequent traveler loyalty program (Viajero Frecuente).

Product overview

Berlinas del Fonce is a Colombian inter-municipal land transportation company operating since 1954, offering a portfolio of bus services under three main tiers: Berlinave Súper Plus (luxury double-decker), Berlinave Plus (double-decker with interactive screens), and Berlinave Súper Confort (single-floor luxury). The Berlinastur brand provides Sprint van special transport for flexible tourist routes. Complementing core transport, the company offers bundled tourist packages (Planes Turísticos) combining bus tickets with hotel stays, a frequent traveler loyalty program, optional micro-insurance, home ticket delivery, and vehicle rental services. All services connect major Colombian cities including Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Santa Marta, and Pamplona.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Berlinave Super Plus: Luxury double-decker bus service with amenities including WiFi, streaming entertainment, air conditioning, and reclining seats on both floors
• Berlinave Plus
• Berlinave Super Confort
• Berlinastur

Products and services

• Berlinave Súper Plus Luxury double-decker bus service featuring reclinable seats on both floors, WiFi, streaming entertainment system, two bathrooms, satellite tracking, power outlets, reading lights, seat belts, and luggage storage. Designed for long-distance inter-municipal passengers seeking a premium travel experience.
• Berlinave Plus Double-decker bus service with reclining armchairs on the first floor and reclining seats on the second floor, featuring WiFi, individual interactive entertainment screens, bathroom, satellite tracking, power outlets, reading lights, seat belts, and luggage storage. Mid-tier option for long-distance travelers.
• Berlinave Súper Confort Single-floor luxury bus service with reclining seats featuring ergonomic headrests, individual interactive entertainment screens, exclusive bathroom, satellite monitoring, WiFi, and power outlets. Premium option for passengers preferring single-floor configuration on long-haul routes.
• Berlinastur Special Transport Special point-to-point passenger transport using Sprinter vans, providing flexible office-to-office service primarily serving tourist destinations and special routes. Operated by the Berlinastur S.A. subsidiary.
• Planes Turísticos (Tourist Packages) All-inclusive vacation packages combining bus transportation, hotel accommodation, buffet breakfast, access to wet areas, and round-trip tickets to various Colombian destinations. Packages priced per person by accommodation type (sencilla, doble, triple) and partner hotel (Mahanaim, Akuamarina, Palmera, Capri, Casa Blanca, among others).
• Vehicle Rental / Charter Service (Servicio de Alquiler) Customized vehicle rental service for corporate and group transportation using Sprinter vans and larger coaches. Quoted per trip based on origin, destination, date, and passenger count. Sales conducted via dedicated email ([email protected], [email protected]) and inquiry form.

Quantifiable outcome

• Founded in 1954 — over 70 years of continuous operations in Colombian inter-municipal transport
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ColsubsidiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColsubsidio affinity card holders receive discounted bus tickets: 12% discount in low season and 5% in high season. Tickets issued in-person at main city ticket offices. Not applicable to special transport service.
• CAFAMcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCAFAM affiliated members receive travel discounts on inter-municipal transport. Discounts available at Berlinas ticket offices and points of sale. Not applicable to special transport or coastal routes between Santa Marta, Barranquilla, and Cartagena.
• Fuerza Pública (Colombian Armed Forces)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorActive military personnel, pensioners, civilian defense sector employees, disabled persons, honor reservists, widows, orphans, and GSED family members receive 12% low-season and 5% high-season discounts. Must present institutional ID badge and identity document. Applicable to long-haul terminal-to-terminal routes. Not applicable to coastal routes.
• Vive Colombia Joven / Tarjeta JovencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColombian youth aged 14-28 enrolled in the Vive Colombia Joven program receive discounts. Access requires identity document, virtual youth card, and discount coupon from tarjetajoven.com. Applies to long-haul terminal-to-terminal routes and intermediate lines. Not active for special service on coastal routes.
• Soy CulturacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSoy Cultura affinity card for artists, culture workers, and knowledge holders provides 10-20% discounts depending on season. Part of Colombia's popular economy cultural policy. Inquiries via cell phone 3183819601. Not applicable to special transport service.
• Partner Hotels (Mahanaim, Akuamarina, Valladolid, Palmera, Capri, Casa Blanca, Posada, Isla Capri, Costa del Sol, Continental, Bianco)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlinastur S.A. partners with approximately 11 hotels across Colombia (Bogotá, Santa Marta, Bucaramanga, Cartagena, Cúcuta) to offer bundled tourist packages combining transport and accommodation. Hotels provide accommodation, breakfast, and wet areas. Packages priced per person by room type (sencilla/doble/triple).
• Supertransporte (Superintendencia de Transporte)minorOthersColombia's transportation superintendency provides regulatory oversight and habilitation for Berlinas' public land passenger transport operations. Displayed as partner logo on website.
• SGSminorOthersSGS Group provides quality certification and audit services referenced in Berlinas' integrated quality management system. Logo displayed on company website.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• FlixBus: European-origin intercity bus operator that has expanded into several Latin American markets; competes with Berlinas on digital-first booking, transparent pricing, and modernized coach amenities, and represents a digitally native threat to legacy operators.
• Busbud: Intercity bus booking aggregator operating across Latin America; offers digital ticketing for many Colombian operators and represents a channel-disruption risk by intermediating demand that could otherwise go directly to Berlinas' owned channels.
• redBus: Latin American bus ticketing aggregator and platform provider (powered by ibiboGroup) that lists multiple Colombian operators; competes with Berlinas on online booking UX and aggregator-led discovery for price-sensitive travelers.

Broad incumbents

• Wingo: Colombian low-cost airline (Copa Holdings subsidiary) operating on Bogotá–Cartagena, Bogotá–Santa Marta, and other key domestic routes that overlap with Berlinas' premium long-haul bus services, intensifying modal substitution pressure.
• LATAM Airlines Colombia: Major Colombian domestic and international carrier operating frequent flights on Bogotá–Cartagena, Bogotá–Santa Marta, Bogotá–Barranquilla, and Bogotá–Bucaramanga corridors, providing time-competitive air alternatives to Berlinas' premium bus tiers.
• Satena: Colombian government-affiliated airline serving domestic routes including Bogotá–Cúcuta and other trunk corridors where Berlinas operates; serves as a modal substitute on long-distance travel between the same Colombian city pairs.

Direct peers

• Expreso Brasilia: One of the largest Colombian intercity bus operators, running scheduled service across major trunk routes including Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Bucaramanga, and Cúcuta — directly overlapping Berlinas' core corridors and customer base.
• Copetran: Major Colombian scheduled intercity coach operator with a long operating history, competing head-to-head with Berlinas on Andean and Caribbean region routes and offering similar multi-tier fleet configurations.
• Rápido Ochoa: Colombian intercity bus company operating scheduled services on many of the same Bogotá–Medellín–Caribbean corridors as Berlinas, with comparable fleet tiers and online booking capabilities.
• Bolivariano: Established Colombian intercity bus operator serving Andean and Caribbean trunk routes with premium-tier offerings; comparable to Berlinas in fleet configuration, route structure, and target passenger segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Berlinasdelfonc
• Facebookfacebook.com/Berlinasitioficial
• Instagraminstagram.com/berlinasdelfonce/?hl=es-la
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berlinas-del-fonce

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Berlinas