Who owns Lothian Buses?
Lothian Buses is owned by Transport for Edinburgh (the United Kingdom).[1]
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Evidence: Transport for Edinburgh Limited consolidated financial statements for the period ended 28 December 2024. Last checked .
Key facts
- Current owner
- Transport for Edinburgh Limited reported
- Owner HQ
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, Edinburgh
- Origin
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Founded
- 1919
- Category
- Travel & transport › Bus & coach
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Lothian Buses
Lothian Buses was founded in 1919 according to the Transport for Edinburgh accounts, which say it is the principal bus operator in the City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian and also runs services in West Lothian, open-top tours and coach day tours. The accounts say it is owned by the four Lothian local authorities, with the City of Edinburgh Council's shares held through Transport for Edinburgh.
Ownership timeline of Lothian Buses
- Current owner Transport for Edinburgh [1] reported
Where Lothian Buses sits in Transport for Edinburgh
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Transport for Edinburgh ownership tree →
Other brands in bus & coach, and who owns them
The 35 brands in bus & coach on Brandtree belong to 23 owners. The largest is Egged, with 4.
| Brand | Owner | Owner based in |
|---|---|---|
| megabus | ComfortDelGro | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
| Derech Egged | Egged | 🇮🇱 Israel |
| Huang Bus | Transport International | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong |
| Bus Éireann | CIÉ | 🇮🇪 Ireland |
| FlixBus | Flix | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| ATV Azienda Trasporti Verona | FNM | 🇮🇹 Italy |
| Arriva UK Bus | Arriva | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Dan | Dan | 🇮🇱 Israel |
About the owner: Transport for Edinburgh
Transport for Edinburgh is a state-owned company headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Brandtree records 1 brand under its control.
Transport for Edinburgh Limited is a Scottish company registered at 55 Annandale Street, Edinburgh. Its 2024 accounts say it was set up in 2013 as the parent and holding company for the City of Edinburgh Council's shares in Lothian Buses Limited and Edinburgh Trams Limited. They also say Lothian Buses is owned by the four Lothian local authorities.
Transport for Edinburgh: full profile, brands and acquisition history →
🇬🇧 Lothian Buses and other British brands
Brandtree records a controlling owner for 543 brands that began in the United Kingdom. 282 of them (52%) are now controlled by a company headquartered in another country; Lothian Buses is not one of them.
- Air Partner — Wheels Up 🇺🇸
- Alphabet — BMW Group 🇩🇪
- Arriva UK Bus — Arriva 🇬🇧
- Avanti West Coast — FirstGroup 🇬🇧
- BA CityFlyer — IAG 🇬🇧
- Birmingham Airport — Birmingham Airport Holdings 🇬🇧
Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Lothian Buses?
The parent company of Lothian Buses is Transport for Edinburgh, a state-owned company headquartered in the United Kingdom.
Is Lothian Buses British?
Yes. Lothian Buses originated in the United Kingdom in 1919 and its owner, Transport for Edinburgh, is also headquartered in the United Kingdom.
Is Lothian Buses still owned by Transport for Edinburgh?
Yes. As of 5 October 2026, Lothian Buses is still owned by Transport for Edinburgh. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Transport for Edinburgh Limited consolidated financial statements for the period ended 28 December 2024 — Transport for Edinburgh Limited, Annual report; retrieved 5 October 2026.
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