The newly announced bus fare structure that took effect in August is designed to ease the financial burden on families. Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) CEO Joel Abraham clarified that student fares have been adjusted to match adult fares, but the Government will fully subsidize this increase. This means that any changes will have no financial impact on students and parents.
Abraham stated that the Government’s subsidy guarantees that students will not incur any additional costs, even during weekends and school holidays, while adult fares will remain unchanged.
Details of the fare adjustments are as follows:
– For Blue Card holders: The Government will fully subsidize 100% of the additional fare for students.
– For Yellow Card holders: Students will continue to pay the current fare, with the rest covered by the Government at all times, including weekends and school holidays.
This fare adjustment is the result of a thorough review conducted by the FCCC, which included a transition to a per-seat fare allocation model. The review involved close collaboration with bus industry operators to ensure they receive fair compensation through a full cost recovery model. This approach aims to support the bus industry while keeping travel affordable for consumers.
Abraham noted that bus operators are expected to uphold and improve service quality under the new fare structure. He emphasized that the FCCC will monitor the services provided by bus operators to ensure they meet standards and offer value in line with the fare changes.
Looking ahead, the FCCC plans to start the next round of bus fare reviews in September 2024, beginning with data gathering and comprehensive analysis to ensure that future fare adjustments are aligned with current market conditions and sustain a balance between consumer needs and industry viability.