Decision Points E69 - Reinventing Bus Travel with Vonlane: Luxury, Innovation, and the Road Ahead with Alex Danza

When most people think of buses, they don’t think luxury. Alex Danza set out to change that.

In this episode of Decision Points, Alex Danza, founder and CEO of Vonlane, tells one of the most surprising success stories in transportation. Described as an “airline on the ground,” Vonlane has redefined regional travel by offering first-class bus service between major cities in Texas and the Southeast.

Alex shares how a childhood hustle as a paperboy in New York shaped his work ethic and curiosity, leading to a career in consulting and high-touch ground transportation. Drawing on years of experience with private aviation clientele, he saw an unmet need: a smarter, more comfortable alternative to short-haul flights and long drives. The result? A meticulously designed travel experience that blends convenience, hospitality, and operational efficiency.

He opens up about the early regulatory battles (including the infamous “booze bus bill”), the complexity of building a brand in a crowded, undervalued space, and the all-hands-on-deck leadership required to get a premium service off the ground - literally.

The conversation also dives into how Vonlane weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, made difficult decisions to pause operations, and came back stronger. Now expanding into cities like Nashville, Atlanta, and Memphis, Vonlane continues to evolve, with an eye toward both growth and acquisition.

For entrepreneurs, operators, and anyone interested in transforming a legacy industry, this is a front-row seat to what it looks like to create something no one else saw coming - and make it indispensable.