The National Express Network (RNE), which manages the Sete Rios terminal, announced that the start date had been postponed from 24 September to 29 September, Executive Digest reports.

FlixBus disputes RNE’s account that it requested the postponement. The company says it requires at least 20 days after receiving definitive confirmation of terminal access and corrected capacity declarations to transfer its operations.

The move involves transferring 23 services in the first phase and making changes to journeys already on sale for Gare do Oriente. According to FlixBus, the final confirmation concerning these services was received last Wednesday following a meeting involving FlixBus, Rede Expressos and the Mobility and Transport Authority (AMT).

RNE has extended the relevant capacity declarations until December 31. The declarations had expired or were close to expiring, creating disagreement between the two companies.

RNE also states that FlixBus must obtain mandatory licences to operate at Sete Rios and says access to the terminal was granted on May 22, 2026.

Long-running dispute

The dispute dates back to 2023, when FlixBus complained to AMT after being refused access to Sete Rios.

In May 2025, the regulator found that the terminal had available capacity and concluded that access should be provided to FlixBus and other operators within the available schedules.

RNE again denied access in June 2025, with FlixBus then taking legal action.

In March 2026, the Lisbon Administrative Court ordered that FlixBus should be given immediate access to Sete Rios. The two companies have since been negotiating the implementation of that ruling and the transfer of FlixBus services to the terminal.