Starting Sunday, September 1, there will be an increase in student bus fares; however, students using the blue and yellow bus cards will remain unaffected by this change.
Joel Abraham, CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), explained that while the student fares have been adjusted to match adult fares, the Government will fully subsidize this increase. “Our evaluation showed that the new fare structure will have no financial impact on students or their families. The Government’s subsidy will cover any additional costs for students, including weekends and school holidays, while the adult fare will remain the same,” he stated.
Fare details are as follows:
– Blue Card: The Government will fully subsidize 100% of the additional student fare.
– Yellow Card: Students will continue to pay the current fare, with the remainder covered by the Government at all times, including weekends and school holidays.
This fare adjustment is the result of a comprehensive review by the FCCC, which introduced a per-seat fare allocation model. This review was conducted in close collaboration with bus industry operators to ensure fair compensation for bus operators through a complete cost allocation recovery model.
Mr. Abraham highlighted that the goal is to sustain the bus industry while keeping fares affordable for consumers. He stressed the importance of bus operators maintaining and improving service quality in light of the new fare structure. “We will closely monitor the services provided by bus operators to ensure they comply with expected standards and deliver value to passengers in accordance with the fare adjustments.”