MCI To Deliver 25 New Coaches To Massachusetts’ Peter Pan, Both Celebrating 90-Year Milestones

MCI representatives (from left) Allen Keith, Brent Maitland and Patricia Ziska join Peter A. Picknelly, Peter B. Picknelly IV and Melissa Picknelly, of Peter Pan Bus Lines, to sign an order for 15 new MCI J4500 motor coaches.

Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), has announced delivery plans for 25 new clean-diesel J4500 coaches to Peter Pan Bus Lines (Peter Pan). MCI delivered the first 10 motor coaches to the bus operator in January 2023, spurring the order for 15 additional vehicles signed for at the American Bus Association’s Marketplace and BusWorld North America, held in Detroit, MI, in February.

Based in Springfield, MA, Peter Pan is one of the largest privately-owned bus companies in the United States, operating a fleet of more than 200 coaches and delivering over 1,000 daily departures to more than 100 destinations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States.

This announcement coincides with a significant milestone for both companies: celebration of their 90th anniversary. Peter Pan and MCI were both founded in 1933, and have supported one another for half a century.

“We are true-blue MCI,” Peter A. Picknelly, CEO and third-generation owner of Peter Pan, said. “We started with the MC-8 in 1974, and since the 1980s, our fleet has been exclusively MCI.”

The new motorcoaches are equipped with advanced safety features, modern amenities, and eco-friendly technology. Peter Pan’s passengers will enjoy a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience on board the state-of-the-art motor coaches, featuring Peter Pan’s signature interiors and 54-passenger seating configuration, providing a luxurious interior with best-in-class legroom.

“Our productive partnership with Peter Pan spans a half-century; over this time, MCI earned Peter Pan’s trust and confidence in the reliability of our vehicles, backed up by excellent service and aftermarket support,” Brent Maitland, Vice President of MCI Private Sector Sales and Marketing, said. “Our J4500 coach has gone through several evolutions since its market launch, and feedback from Peter Pan has been instrumental to MCI’s continuous improvement. The Peter Pan team strives to upgrade its fleet with the newest and the best vehicles, but not at the expense of reliability.

“As MCI nears 100 years in the industry, we will keep our J4500 at the forefront of our product portfolio while offering reliable support to help operators like Peter Pan continue to be industry leaders.”

In addition to Peter Pan’s recent announcement of management promotions, Peter A. Picknelly and the late Tom Picknally have four of their children (the fourth generation) actively involved in operations. Each generation brings its unique talents to Peter Pan. Recent advancements include digital technology, with nearly 85% of all ticketing and charter sales now transacted online.

Visit www.mcicoach.com.