J&B Travel of Leeds is the latest coach business to be acquired by FirstGroup.
The operator, which has been established for more than 40 years, has a fleet of 15 vehicles, with work including home-to-school, private hire and FlixBus contracts.
All approximately 25 employees, including General Manager Paul Lynn, will continue to work for J&B Travel under the new ownership, FirstGroup says.
FirstGroup thus grows its footprint in the Yorkshire coach sector, having bought Tetley’s Coaches – also based in Leeds – in July and York Pullman in 2024.
Further afield, Lakeside Group, Anderson Travel, Ensignbus, and Matthews Coaches have been other purchases of FirstGroup in recent years.
First Bus describes the newest acquisition as a “natural fit” and remarked on J&B Travel’s “high quality fleet and reputation”.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director, Business and Coach for First Bus, says: “This acquisition underlines our commitment to growing our coach division and building long-term partnerships across the sector.
“J&B Travel Limited is a respected operator with an excellent safety and service record, and we’re pleased to be bringing the team on board. We remain open to exploring further opportunities where businesses align with our values and strategic focus.”
All existing contracts and services, including the FlixBus work, which began in April, will be delivered.
Mr Lynn adds: “We are proud of the reputation we’ve built and the loyal customer base we’ve served over the years.
“Joining First Bus is the right step for our business and our people, giving us the backing of a major operator while keeping the strengths that make our service what it is. I’m looking forward to continuing to lead the team as part of First Bus.”
