The new bus fare system introduced in August is now in operation. Joel Abraham, the chief executive of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), stated that although student fares have been modified to match adult fares, the Government is fully covering this increase. This adjustment aims to prevent any financial burden on families, ensuring that any changes have no cost impact on students and parents.
Abraham mentioned that the Government’s subsidy guarantees that students will not face additional expenses, including during weekends and school holidays, while adult fares will remain unchanged.
For fare details:
– For students with a Blue Card, the Government will subsidize 100% of the increased fare.
– Students with a Yellow Card will continue to pay the current fare, with the rest covered by the Government at all times, including weekends and school holidays.
This fare restructuring follows a detailed review by the FCCC, which moved to a per-seat fare allocation model. The review was conducted in collaboration with bus industry operators to ensure they receive fair compensation through a complete cost recovery model. This initiative seeks to support the bus industry while keeping fares affordable for consumers.
Abraham highlighted that bus operators need to maintain and improve service quality with the new fare system. The FCCC will monitor the services provided by bus operators to ensure they meet expected standards and deliver value to passengers.
Looking forward, the FCCC will initiate the next bus fare review in September 2024, starting with data collection and thorough analysis to ensure future fare adjustments align with current market conditions, balancing the interests of consumers and the industry.